BEM UI to Stage Protest at Bundaran HI Today
The University of Indonesia’s Student Executive Board (BEM UI) will stage a demonstration in the Bundaran HI area of Central Jakarta today. They are bringing a number of demands.
“Today, one day after the state ceremony was held, we take to the streets not to celebrate, but to ask loudly: what kind of independence are we celebrating?” said BEM UI Chairman Yatalatof Imawan in his statement on Tuesday (18/8/2026).
He said 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 been going on for eighty-one years and continue to worsen,” he said.
There are eight demands being voiced in today’s demonstration. They are demanding that the government lower fuel prices and declare disaster status in several regions.
“This is only the beginning. Students, workers, farmers, teachers, traders, and all the people who feel this republic is being betrayed by its own ideals, let us seize back true independence,” he said.
“Independence will not be given by the state every year through ceremonies. It must be forcibly claimed by the united power of the people,” he added.
The following are the eight demands of BEM UI in today’s demonstration.
In the name of the people who are not yet fully independent, we declare that we are FED UP and demand:
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 MBG and KDMP
Stop the centralisation of power, the cutting of Regional Transfers (TKD), and restore regional autonomy
Declare a national disaster status for the Sumatra and Flores regions and accelerate the recovery of disaster-affected areas
Stop repressiveness and TNI-Polri intervention in civilian spaces and disband YON TP