4,151 Joint Personnel Deployed to Secure BEM UI Protest Today, Masses Urged to Be Orderly
The University of Indonesia Student Executive Board (BEM UI) will hold a demonstration at the Bundaran HI, Jakarta, today. A total of 4,151 joint personnel have been deployed to secure the action. “4,151 joint personnel have been prepared to secure the action. The breakdown is 3,651 police personnel and 500 military personnel,” said Polda Metro Jaya Head of Public Relations Commissioner Budi Hermanto in a statement on Friday (12/6/2026).
Budi stated that the police respect the right of citizens to express their opinions in public. The security operation is carried out to ensure the activity proceeds safely, orderly, and without disrupting other public activities. “Polda Metro Jaya respects the right of citizens to express their opinions in public. The presence of personnel on the ground is to provide service and security so that the activity runs safely, orderly, and does not disturb the public,” he explained.
Police have prepared anticipatory measures for various dynamics on the ground, ranging from traffic congestion, vehicle convoys, situational road closures, disruption to public facilities, to potential criminal acts. Budi urged participants to remain orderly, not to bring dangerous objects, and not to commit vandalism. “We urge participants to remain orderly, not to bring dangerous objects, not to commit vandalism, and to work together to maintain a conducive situation,” he added.
Polda Metro Jaya has also prepared situational traffic management around the protest site. Polda Metro Jaya affirmed its readiness to ensure the smooth conduct of the demonstration. “Traffic management has been prepared situationally. If there is congestion or a need to divert traffic around the protest site, officers will carry out traffic engineering while prioritising the safety of participants and road users,” he said.
BEM UI is known to be holding a demonstration in the Bundaran HI area today. They have apologised in advance if the action causes traffic congestion. “To the residents of Jakarta, especially around Bundaran HI, we would like to apologise for the congestion and inconvenience that will occur tomorrow,” said BEM UI Chairperson Yatalathof Ma’shum Imawan in a statement on Thursday (11/6).
Today’s protest is titled ‘Towards a Bankrupt Indonesia’. Yatalathof said the traffic congestion would only be temporary during the demonstration. “However, we want to convey that the traffic jam will only last a few hours. On the other hand, the congestion of social mobility, the congestion of job opportunities, and the congestion of the future that this system imposes on the people has been going on for decades and shows no sign of stopping on its own,” he stated.
Here are the five demands:
Stop the waste of the State Budget (APBN)
Lower the prices of basic necessities and fuel
Halt the Free Nutritious Meal Programme (MBG) and the construction of the Red and White Village Cooperatives
Stop militarism in the civilian sphere
Prabowo must stop evading and admit the government’s mistakes