Labour Day Action Leads to Traffic Diversions Around Monas

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Directorate of Traffic of the Metro Jaya Regional Police carried out traffic engineering around the National Monument (Monas) area in Central Jakarta during the International Labour Day or May Day commemoration on Friday (1/5/2026).

The Head of Operational Security of the Metro Jaya Traffic Directorate, Police Commissioner Robby Hefados, stated that traffic density is still being monitored at several points at present.

“Indeed, the areas that are still congested are Jalan Merdeka Timur, including from Tugu Tani to the US Embassy. For Merdeka Barat, Merdeka Selatan, and Merdeka Utara, conditions remain quite conducive,” Robby said in a written statement on Friday.

“This includes pedestrians heading to Istiqlal Mosque,” he added.

To ease the congestion, police enforced traffic diversions on several road sections.

One of them is on Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan heading towards MH Thamrin, which is diverted straight towards Medan Merdeka Timur.

Meanwhile, in the Patung Kuda area, vehicle traffic is also directed straight towards Sudirman-Thamrin, with an option to turn left at Kebon Sirih or Sarinah.

Robby mentioned that there are three main points for expressing opinions that are causing traffic density, namely the Patung Kuda area, in front of the Pertamina Building, and in front of the US Embassy.

Based on field observations, Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan from both directions was temporarily closed.

Several vehicles of the action participants were seen parked on the road body up to the sidewalks.

Not only that, motorbikes were also seen filling the sidewalk areas, thus disturbing pedestrians passing nearby.