Central Jakarta Police deploy 6,962 personnel to secure student protest

The Central Jakarta Metro Police deployed 6,962 personnel to secure a student demonstration around the Hotel Indonesia roundabout and the Arjuna Wiwaha statue in the Monas area of Central Jakarta on Tuesday.

Central Jakarta Police Chief Senior Commissioner Reynold EP Hutagalung stressed that all personnel should carry out their duties humanely, patiently, measuredly and without being easily provoked.

“I entrust all personnel with this: our younger brothers and sisters, the students, are our family. They are not opponents, but members of the public whom we must serve, protect and secure as best we can,” Reynold said in a statement in Jakarta on Tuesday.

He said students expressing their opinions are part of the community that must be served and protected.

To that end, he emphasised that all actions in the field must be under a single command and in accordance with procedure.

Personnel were instructed not to act outside procedure, not to move independently, and to prioritise persuasive communication in dealing with the dynamics of the crowd.

Reynold also confirmed that no member would carry or use firearms while serving the demonstration.

“All actions in the field must be under a single command. There must be no individual initiative without instruction. Carry out your duties with full responsibility, humanely, measuredly and in accordance with procedure,” Reynold said.

“Do not let other groups try to enter, provoke or hijack this expression of opinion, which is protected by law,” Reynold added.

As is known, Polda Metro Jaya has prepared a total of 9,242 joint personnel to serve and secure the expression of opinion by a number of student groups at several points across Jakarta.

In the Hotel Indonesia roundabout area, Reynold said the location is not a place for conveying aspirations because there are economic activities and other public activities there.

Regarding traffic flow, personnel from the Polda Metro Jaya Traffic Directorate and the Central Jakarta Police Traffic Unit have been deployed at a number of points, including the Hotel Indonesia roundabout and the Horse Statue.

Traffic diversions will be applied situationally, adjusting to conditions on the ground.

“We advise the public to continue their activities as usual. For traffic flow, officers will manage the situation on the ground,” Reynold said.