BEM UI to Stage Protest at Hotel Indonesia Roundabout Tomorrow
The University of Indonesia’s Student Executive Board (BEM UI) plans to stage a protest at the Hotel Indonesia (HI) Roundabout in Central Jakarta on Tuesday (18/8/2026) at noon. The protest, issued under the call ‘Let’s Reclaim Independence’, is being held just one day after the 81st anniversary of Indonesia’s independence.
In its Instagram account, @bemui_official, the intra-campus student organisation invited all citizens to join the protest, arguing that the independence Indonesia has achieved today has been tarnished by the current regime.
‘Let us come down together and fight to reclaim the independence that has been tarnished by the current regime,’ BEM UI wrote, as quoted by Republika on Monday (17/8/2026).
BEM UI Chairperson Yatalathof Ma’shum Imawan confirmed the protest would take place the following day. The protest is scheduled for Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. Western Indonesia Time. ‘It is true, there will be a protest tomorrow,’ he said when contacted by Republika.
Republika also contacted BEM UI’s contact person for the protest, Ridho. According to him, the protest will be carried out by BEM UI together with 15 faculty-level BEMs across UI and 25 other allied organisations.
‘That is correct, BEM UI together with 15 faculty-level BEMs across UI and 25 other allied organisations will stage a protest at the HI Roundabout tomorrow,’ Ridho said.
During the protest, demonstrators are expected to voice at least eight demands. The eight demands are as follows:
Stop the state’s colonisation of its own people.
Stop Corruption, Collusion, and Nepotism (KKN).
Realise genuine agrarian reform.
Lower the prices of staple goods and fuel.
Conduct a total evaluation of National Strategic Projects (PSN) and halt the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) and KDMP programmes.
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 for disaster-affected areas.
Stop repression and intervention by the TNI-Polri in civilian spaces and disband YON TP.