6,088 Personnel Deployed to Secure Student Protest in Jakarta
The Jakarta Metropolitan Police have readied 6,088 joint personnel from the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police (Polri) to secure a student-led expression of opinion scheduled to take place at several strategic points in Jakarta. In addition to ensuring the students’ aspirations can be conveyed safely, authorities are also anticipating the possibility of certain groups attempting to hijack the action and trigger security disturbances.
Head of Public Relations for the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, Commissioner Budi Hermanto, stated that the security operation is a form of service to the public exercising their constitutional right to express opinions in public. He said the presence of officers aims to ensure the action proceeds in an orderly manner without disrupting public activities.
‘The expression of aspirations to the public is protected by law. So the presence of Polri and TNI personnel in carrying out this service is to ensure that the aspirations conveyed by these students are delivered properly,’ Budi told reporters in the DPR area on Friday (12/6).
The thousands of deployed personnel are drawn from various units, consisting of 500 TNI personnel, 1,000 Mobile Brigade Corps (Brimob) personnel, 200 Sabhara Corps operational control support (BKO) personnel, 3,802 Jakarta Metropolitan Police personnel, and 586 Central Jakarta Metropolitan Resort Police personnel.
Security is focused on four areas expected to become mass concentration points, namely around the DPR/MPR RI Building, the HI Roundabout, the Arjuna Wiwaha Statue, and Cikini Raya. Additionally, traffic police have been deployed at several supporting points, including the Semanggi area, to anticipate traffic congestion.
In his directives to personnel, the Jakarta Police Chief stressed that all officers should prioritise a humanistic approach during the security operation. Officers are instructed to remain patient and not be easily provoked in the field.
Budi confirmed that no TNI or Polri members are equipped with firearms while carrying out duties to secure the action.
‘Officers providing security services for the expression of opinions in public must be patient, humanistic, and not provoked. This includes an emphasis from the Police Chief that no TNI-Polri officers are to carry firearms during this security service for the expression of opinion,’ he said.
On the other hand, the Jakarta Metropolitan Police reminded action participants to maintain order, respect other road users, and be vigilant against the possibility of external parties attempting to exploit the demonstration for other purposes.
According to Budi, the Police Law Enforcement Task Force has identified several groups suspected of potentially piggybacking on the action and causing disturbances to public security and order. Intelligence and law enforcement personnel have been deployed in the field to monitor the movements of these groups.
‘If they are found carrying items intended to cause disturbances to public security and order, we will take firm action. We repeat, if we find certain groups that have been identified carrying items that could endanger and disrupt public order, the Jakarta Metropolitan Police and the Law Enforcement Task Force will take firm action,’ he stressed.
The Jakarta Metropolitan Police also urged the mass of demonstrators to protect public facilities and amenities during the activity. This is considered important so that public activities, including those of business operators whose livelihoods depend on the affected areas, can continue to function properly.
Regarding the location of the action, Budi noted that the HI Roundabout is fundamentally not an area designated for expressing opinions due to the high level of economic activity and public mobility. Therefore, the police have communicated with relevant parties to direct the mass concentration point to the Arjuna Wiwaha Statue area or in front of the DPR/MPR Building.
‘We from the Intelligence Directorate have also communicated to divert the point from the HI Roundabout to around the Arjuna Wiwaha Statue or in front of the DPR/MPR, so that their aspirations can still be conveyed properly and this is also protected by law,’ Budi said.
Meanwhile, traffic engineering will be implemented situationally according to developments on the ground. Members of the public who need to pass through the affected areas are advised to monitor the latest information through social media or official channels of the Traffic Directorate and the Jakarta Metropolitan Police to adjust their travel routes.