Demonstration prompts closure of Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan

Police have closed Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan in Central Jakarta in both directions due to a demonstration by student groups. Hundreds of students marched from the Tugu Tani area on Monday at approximately 2.27 p.m. Western Indonesia Time towards Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan, arriving around 2.50 p.m. Among the issues they voiced were the government’s policy on the Free Nutritious Meal programme (MBG), the weakening Rupiah exchange rate, and the rising price of non-subsidised fuel. Several Transjakarta bus routes, such as 2A and 5C heading towards Monas, were diverted before the Horse Statue area. Meanwhile, joint personnel from the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, Central Jakarta Resort Police, and local sector police were deployed to secure the demonstration. Head of Public Relations for the Central Jakarta Metro Resort Police, First Police Inspector Erlyn Sumantri, stated that student demonstrations were also taking place in front of the House of Representatives (DPR/MPR RI) building and on Jalan Kwitang Raya. Regarding traffic management at the protest sites, police said measures were situational, taking into account the number of demonstrators on the ground.