Is the HI Roundabout Really Banned as a Demonstration Site?

Police and soldiers blocked students attempting to stage a protest at the Hotel Indonesia Roundabout in Central Jakarta on Friday, 12 June 2026. The student demonstration from Jakarta and surrounding areas was spearheaded by the University of Indonesia Student Executive Board (BEM UI). During the demonstration on Friday, members of the Jakarta Metropolitan Regional Police instead forced the students to protest at the DPR RI complex or the Arjuna Wiwaha Horse Statue at the National Monument. Head of Public Relations for Polda Metro Jaya, Senior Commissioner Budi Hermanto, argued that the HI Roundabout is not a location for demonstrations. “That location is not a place designated for expressing aspirations,” Budi told journalists on Friday, 12 June 2026. Police cited DKI Jakarta Governor Regulation Number 232 of 2015 concerning the Control of Public Expression in Open Spaces. Budi stated that the HI Roundabout is a centre of public activity and business turnover. Police also consider the area to be Jakarta’s traffic epicentre, so a demonstration at that location could potentially disrupt the wider public interest. Central Jakarta Metro Police Chief, Senior Commissioner Reynold E.P. Hutagalung, explained that BEM UI did not submit an official notification letter regarding the HI Roundabout action. Reynold said the police had received initial informal coordination on Thursday, 11 June 2026, at around 2:56 AM WIB. “We received initial information in the form of a PDF document of the action notification letter from one of the UI students via digital message. However, when officers tried to conduct further communication and verification, the confirmation message received absolutely no response from the responsible party,” Reynold said on Sunday, 14 June 2026, in an official statement. According to Reynold, in accordance with the mandate of Article 10 of Law Number 9 of 1998 concerning Freedom of Expression in Public, every action coordinator is obliged to submit a written and formal notification letter. Reynold said the notification letter for the action must be delivered directly by the activity coordinator to the police and must be received by the local police no later than 3x24 hours before the activity begins. “This is crucial so that the police can map risk management, prepare proportional security services, and anticipate that the rights of other road users are not disturbed. However, until the activity took place, we did not receive any official physical notification letter,” Reynold stated. DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung permitted BEM UI to hold the action at the HI Roundabout. He stressed that the right to express opinions is part of democracy and must be respected. According to Pramono, the freedom to demonstrate is guaranteed by law and is the right of every citizen. “In a democratic country, the right to express opinions, to demonstrate, is guaranteed by law,” Pramono said at DKI Jakarta City Hall on 12 June 2026. However, Pramono reminded that demonstrations must remain orderly and not result in the destruction of public facilities. Constitutional law expert from Gadjah Mada University, Yance Arizona, stated that the police’s interpretation of DKI Jakarta Governor Regulation Number 232 of 2015 is incorrect. Yance asserted that there is no prohibition on demonstrations at the HI Roundabout in the regional regulation. “Moreover, if it is considered a violation of the regional regulation, that is not a matter for the police. The regulation stipulates that coordination is carried out with the National Unity and Political Agency (Kesbangpol). So, the police’s reason for banning the demonstration at Bundaran HI using that regulation is not appropriate,” Yance said on Sunday, 14 June 2026. Yance also dismissed the police’s argument regarding the official notification based on Article 10 of Law Number 9 of 1998. He confirmed that the law does regulate notification to the police, but the notification is not in the context of a permit. “Because a permit is not required to hold a demonstration,” Yance said. The notification letter is needed for coordination and to make it easier for the police to provide security guarantees for the demonstrators. Yance said the notification letter must be delivered in writing. However, in the past, ‘written’ under Law Number 9 of 1998 was interpreted as printed. According to him, with current developments, delivery in PDF form should be acceptable. “The important principle related to the fulfilment of political rights regarding public expression is that it must not be hindered by bureaucratic procedures. Bureaucratic obstacles themselves are a violation of the right to express opinions,” Yance said. BEM UI Chairperson Yatalathof Ma’shum Imawan denied failing to send the notification letter for the HI Roundabout action. Athof stated that the right to demonstrate is protected by the constitution, or the 1945 Constitution. “So it has fulfilled the constitution, and besides, it’s called a notification of action. So the obligation is only to notify,” Athof said on Sunday, 14 June 2026. Athof said he had sent the notification letter to the Central Jakarta Police via WhatsApp message and received a response. He also showed chat evidence that the PDF file of the notification letter had been delivered to the Central Jakarta Police. On the other hand, Athof questioned the police’s claim that the BEM UI alliance’s action did not follow procedure. He instead questioned the police and found it strange why the police forced the demonstration to be at the DPR RI. “Why did the police actually force the demo at the DPR? That’s funny, isn’t it? Not to mention blockading our mass of protesters from Friday prayers at Dukuh Atas. Enough, sir, you say A but the reality is always B. Your trust is bankrupt, sir,” he said. Previously, Athof conveyed the students’ reason for choosing to demonstrate at the Hotel Indonesia Roundabout area in Central Jakarta. According to Athof, the HI Roundabout was chosen because students no longer trust the DPR RI.