Demonstrators from 'Indonesia Towards Bankruptcy' Protest Remain Defiant
Demonstrators from the ‘Menuju Indonesia Bangkrut’ (Towards Indonesia’s Bankruptcy) rally remained at Dukuh Atas on Jalan M.H. Thamrin, Central Jakarta, into Friday evening, 12 June 2026. At around 7 p.m. Western Indonesian Time, the protesters were seen holding their ground despite a police blockade.
The alliance had originally planned to demonstrate at the Bundaran HI roundabout. However, they were intercepted by police at Dukuh Atas, approximately 500 metres from the roundabout.
As darkness fell, the demonstrators continued to chant slogans and sing songs of struggle. They sang ‘Halo-halo Bandung’ and ‘Maju Tak Gentar’, and jointly shouted revolutionary jargon. Rows of police and military personnel blocked them with shields, and traffic was held up behind the crowd.
The ‘Menuju Indonesia Bangkrut’ rally was initiated by a student alliance from various universities. Some demonstrators were seen leaving the protest as evening approached, including a contingent from the University of Indonesia’s Student Executive Board (BEM UI). However, students from other universities chose to remain. A number of office workers also joined the crowd after finishing work.
Zikra, a worker who arrived at the site after office hours, said the demonstration was still crowded. ‘There are probably still more than a thousand people,’ he said.
The BEM UI alliance had arrived in front of the Thamrin Nine Ballroom building at 3:10 p.m. Western Indonesian Time, having walked from Semanggi, Central Jakarta. The bus they were travelling on was barred by authorities from proceeding to the Bundaran HI roundabout.
The rally was initiated by an alliance of Student Executive Boards from the University of Indonesia (UI), IPB University, Politeknik Negeri Jakarta, Universitas Pancasila, Universitas Gunadarma, as well as student organisations such as the National Student Front and the Progressive Student Union (Semar UI).
There were at least five demands in this protest. First, to stop the wastefulness of the State Budget (APBN). Second, to lower the prices of basic necessities and fuel. Third, to halt the free nutritious meal programme and the construction of the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives. Fourth, the alliance also demanded an end to militarism in the civilian sphere. Lastly, they called on President Prabowo Subianto to stop evading responsibility and to acknowledge the government’s mistakes.