Blockaded by officers, protesters held back from entering Bundaran HI area

Jakarta - A mass of demonstrators from several universities in Jakarta were held back from entering the Bundaran Hotel Indonesia (HI) area in Central Jakarta after being blockaded on Jalan MH Thamrin by officers on duty. ANTARA reported from the location on Friday that hundreds of students wearing the alma mater jackets of various universities were marching on foot from the Semanggi area towards Bundaran HI. They arrived on Jalan MH Thamrin at around 2.30 p.m. Western Indonesia Time carrying a number of protest attributes. However, the crowd could not enter the Bundaran HI area because officers lined up to form a blockade across part of Jalan MH Thamrin. Central Jakarta Metro Police Chief Senior Commissioner Reynold E.P. Hutagalung said that his party did not permit the crowd to hold speeches in the Bundaran HI area. “Please just stay here,” said Senior Commissioner Reynold while engaging in dialogue with representatives of the protesters. Reynold stated that if the crowd staged their protest in the Bundaran HI area, traffic flow would be disrupted and public activities would also be disturbed. Despite being prohibited, the protesters attempted to breach the barricade but were unsuccessful and subsequently held their speeches on Jalan MH Thamrin.