The Chair of the University of Indonesia\u2019s Student Executive Body\n(BEM UI), Yatalathof Ma\u2019shum Imawan, has explained why students chose to\ndemonstrate at the Bundaran Hotel Indonesia (HI) roundabout in Central\nJakarta. BEM UI, together with several other student organisations,\nplanned to hold an action titled \u2018Menuju Indonesia Bangkrut\u2019 (Towards a\nBankrupt Indonesia) at the location on Friday, 12 June 2026.<\/p>\n
According to Athof, Bundaran HI was selected because students no\nlonger trust the House of Representatives (DPR) or the government. For\nthis reason, they did not wish to protest in front of the DPR Building\nor the Presidential Palace, which are the usual locations for such\nactions.<\/p>\n
Athof stated that the DPR and the government currently tend to speak\nwith one voice on all policies, which he considers detrimental to the\npeople. \u2018Because of that, we no longer trust them enough to demonstrate\nthere, at the DPR,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
By demonstrating at Bundaran HI, Athof hopes students can better\nraise public awareness about Indonesia\u2019s condition, which is facing an\neconomic and democratic crisis. \u2018We want to make people aware that we\nare all suffering together,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
The student masses were blocked by the Greater Jakarta Metropolitan\nRegional Police (Polda Metro Jaya) as they were heading to Bundaran HI.\nThe crowd from BEM UI was halted by security forces in the Semanggi\narea, Central Jakarta. Police asked them to change the protest location\nto the front of the DPR Building.<\/p>\n
Athof questioned the blockade, assessing the police action as\nrepressive. \u2018Even though we had planned it and also sent a letter to the\npolice stating that we would hold the action at Bundaran HI,\u2019 he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Athof estimated that around a thousand students were detained on the\nroad while heading to the Bundaran HI area. As of Friday afternoon, he\nsaid, they were still trying to reach the location.<\/p>\n
The Head of Public Relations for Polda Metro Jaya, Senior\nCommissioner Budi Hermanto, said that Bundaran HI is a centre of public\nand economic activity. Because of this, he said, the public must\nunderstand that demonstrations cannot be held there. \u2018Indeed, we know\nthat the area around Bundaran HI is not a place for expressing\naspirations,\u2019 Budi said in a written statement on Friday.<\/p>\n
Therefore, Polda Metro Jaya asked the students to change the protest\npoint originally planned for Bundaran HI. Budi said demonstrators could\nhold the action in the area of the Arjuna Wijaya Statue, also known as\nthe Horse Statue, or in front of the MPR\/DPR\/DPD Building.<\/p>\n
As of Friday afternoon, a number of demonstrators from various\nbackgrounds were already waiting for the student masses in the Bundaran\nHI area. They included workers and groups of mothers wanting to join the\naction. Some had been waiting since 10:00 WIB.<\/p>\n
The mass action titled \u2018Menuju Indonesia Bangkrut\u2019 was initiated by\nan alliance of Student Executive Bodies (BEM) from the University of\nIndonesia (UI), IPB University, Jakarta State Polytechnic, Pancasila\nUniversity, Gunadarma University, as well as student organisations such\nas the National Student Front and the Progressive Student Union, or\nSemar UI.<\/p>\n
There are at least five demands in this action. The first is for the\ngovernment to stop the waste of the State Budget (APBN). Second, lower\nthe prices of staple goods and fuel (BBM). Third, halt the free\nnutritious meal programme and the construction of the Merah Putih\nVillage Cooperatives. Fourth, the alliance also demands an end to\nmilitarism in the civilian sphere. Lastly, they are also asking\nPresident Prabowo Subianto to stop evading and to acknowledge the\ngovernment\u2019s mistakes.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/why-students-chose-bundaran-hi-for-their-protest-1781258188", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }