DPR: Student-Police Cooperation During Demonstration Shows Democratic Maturity

Jakarta (ANTARA) – DPR RI Commission III chairman Habiburokhman said the positive cooperation between students demonstrating on 28 October and the officers securing the event reflected the maturity and calmness of Indonesian democracy.

He said Commission III had also monitored the demonstration. In his view, students conveyed their demands in an orderly and dignified manner, while officers prioritised dialogue and did not allow themselves to be provoked.

“We monitored directly how patiently the officers on the ground carried out their duties,” Habiburokhman said in Jakarta on Thursday.

He also praised the Indonesian National Police (Polri) for successfully overseeing the student demonstration, including National Police Chief General Suyudi Aryo Seto, Jakarta Metro Police Chief Inspector General Dadang Hartanto and Central Jakarta Metro Police Chief Commissioner Reynold Hutagalung.

He said he hoped the security approach, which prioritises two-way communication and a humane manner, would continue to be upheld as the standard operating procedure for managing public demonstrations in future.

Previously, the government said it respected and valued students’ views, including those expressed through demonstrations, as part of the freedom of expression guaranteed in a democracy, while reaffirming its commitment to addressing public issues.

Head of the Government Communications Agency (Bakom) Syahganda Nainggolan said in a statement received in Jakarta on Wednesday (28 October) that criticism, public aspirations and oversight were important parts of national life.

He said those views provided input for the government to continue evaluating and improving the quality of its policies and public services.