9,242 Joint Personnel Deployed to Secure 31 Demonstrations in Jakarta Today
A total of 9,242 joint personnel have been placed on standby to secure demonstrations in Jakarta today. Reports indicate there are 31 protests and 16 public activities spread across Central Jakarta, South Jakarta, and East Jakarta.
The Head of Public Relations for Polda Metro Jaya stated that the total personnel were deployed to secure all demonstrations within the jurisdiction of Polda Metro Jaya as well as other public activities. The University of Indonesia’s Student Executive Board (BEM UI) is also holding a demonstration at the Hotel Indonesia Roundabout in Central Jakarta today.
“The personnel prepared number 9,242 for all activities conveying aspirations in public, as well as other community activities. This consists of 5,670 personnel from Polda Metro Jaya, 222 personnel from the resort police, 1,500 TNI personnel, and 1,850 personnel from the National Police Headquarters,” Budi told reporters on Tuesday (18/8/2026).
The Chief of Operations for Polda Metro Jaya, Senior Commissioner Laode Aries El Fathar, led a troop deployment ceremony at the Polda Metro Jaya Precision Field on Tuesday morning (18/8). He said his side would ensure the demonstrations proceed in an orderly manner. He advised personnel on duty to prevent the protests from descending into unrest or damage to public facilities.
“Security for demonstrations must proceed safely and orderly, and must not cause riots or damage to public facilities. All of us on duty must not be easily provoked emotionally, control ourselves, carry out our duties humanely, patiently, and proportionately, and make law enforcement a last resort, ultimum remedium,” said Aries.
Laode advised each task force to carry out its duties to the fullest. He also said demonstrators carrying dangerous objects should be secured.
Laode stressed that no personnel would carry firearms while on duty. He advised that the handling of demonstrations should prioritise a humane approach.
“Please have the Provost officers check members; no one is carrying firearms. The standard operating procedure in dealing with demonstrations is service-oriented, not confrontational,” he said.
“Members tasked with facing the crowd must not act aggressively and must maintain a defensive position while prioritising humane methods, as well as provide space for representatives of the crowd to speak so that the situation on the ground can be managed properly,” he added.
The Chair of BEM UI, Yatalatof Imawan, previously said that today’s demonstration is titled #MerebutKemerdekaan. BEM UI apologised in advance if the protest causes traffic congestion.
“To the residents of Jakarta, we apologise for today’s congestion. But remember: this traffic jam is only for a few hours, whereas the structural congestion, the job market congestion, and the forced justice congestion have lasted eighty-one years and continue to worsen,” said BEM UI Chair Yatalatof Imawan on Tuesday (18/8/2026).
The following are the eight demands of BEM UI in today’s demonstration:
Stop the state’s colonisation of its own people
Stop Corruption, Collusion, and Nepotism (KKN)
Realise genuine agrarian reform
Lower the prices of basic necessities and fuel
Conduct a total evaluation of National Strategic Projects (PSN) and stop the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme and KDMP
Stop the centralisation of power, the reduction of Regional Transfers (TKD), and restore regional autonomy
Declare a national disaster status for the Sumatra and Flores regions and accelerate recovery of disaster-affected areas
Stop repressiveness and TNI-Polri intervention in civilian spaces and disband YON TP