PONTIANAK, thekabarnews.com—West Kalimantan Governor Ria Norsan met student protesters outside the provincial legislative council building in Pontianak on Friday, Oct. 23. This meeting followed several days of demonstrations over forest fires, public services and an alleged assault on protesters.

Norsan, accompanied by Deputy Governor Krisantus Kurniawan and provincial officials, sat with representatives of the protesters to hear their demands. Students from several universities and youth organizations participated in Friday’s rally, according to Pontianak Post.

The demonstrators demanded greater transparency in the provincial administration’s handling of forest and land fires (karhutla). They also raised concerns about fuel supplies, electricity disruptions, education and alleged corruption.

Oki Pramadani, a Tanjungpura University student involved in the demonstration, said the protesters had presented more than 20 demands. However, he said the governor’s responses had not satisfied the group. The group was still waiting for concrete measures from the provincial administration.

Governor Ria Norsan rejected suggestions that he had deliberately avoided meeting the protesters.

“Demonstrations are allowed as a way to convey aspirations. As governor of West Kalimantan, I am not running away or hiding,” he said in a statement published through the provincial administration’s official channel.

The provincial administration said Norsan had attended a meeting with academics and peatland specialists on Oct. 21 to discuss wildfire mitigation and post-fire recovery. It said he travelled to Jakarta the following day to receive a regional financial-access award.

During Friday’s dialogue, Norsan said authorities had recorded 22 remaining hotspots in Ketapang regency as of Oct. 22.

“The West Kalimantan provincial administration, together with all relevant parties, continues working to extinguish the remaining hotspots. This effort will ensure the wildfire response can be completed promptly,” Norsan said, according to the West Kalimantan provincial administration.

The protesters also demanded an investigation into alleged violence during an earlier demonstration. Student representatives claimed that unidentified people in civilian clothing assaulted several participants.

A representative of IAIN Pontianak separately alleged that unidentified people struck at least seven of its students. However, no one had independently established the circumstances and identities of those responsible.

Norsan denied ordering any community organization to confront the protesters. He urged the West Kalimantan Police to investigate the allegations and said authorities should handle any evidence professionally.

The governor’s denial does not resolve the allegation or determine responsibility. Moreover, investigators would need witness accounts, medical records and available video footage to establish what occurred and whether criminal offenses took place.

The provincial administration’s account said law enforcement agencies had jurisdiction over any suspected violence and should conduct the process fairly.

Friday’s meeting opened direct communication between the administration and protesters, but it did not end the dispute. In fact, students said they would assess the government’s response based on measurable follow-up. This includes clearer wildfire spending information and progress in investigating the alleged assaults.