List of Student Demands in Today's Jakarta Protest

Students from several university executive bodies (BEM) in Greater Jakarta brought five demands during a protest held in the Jalan Jenderal Sudirman area, South Jakarta, on Friday (12/6). The action was originally planned to take place at the Bundaran HI roundabout in Central Jakarta. However, police set up blockades and prohibited the location from being used as a rallying point. Officers intercepted a bus carrying the group, diverting them to the front of the parliamentary complex, but the students insisted and eventually staged a long march. Central Jakarta Metro Police Head of Planning AKBP Adri Desas Furyanto even told students they could run him over if they forced their way to Bundaran HI. “If you insist, go ahead and run us over. If you go to that point, you won’t be blocked,” he said. “The problem is our aspirations are not just for the DPR,” a student representative replied. “Why don’t you gentlemen just go to Bundaran HI,” the student added. “Bundaran HI is the heart of the people’s roads, the heart of the economy, Indonesia’s centre of gravity. If you stop there, everything will be finished, kid,” Adri answered. As of around 4.30 p.m. Western Indonesia Time, the protest was still ongoing and concentrated in the Dukuh Atas area of Jalan Jenderal Sudirman, South Jakarta. Police continued to set up blockades to prevent the crowd from gathering at Bundaran HI, arguing it would disrupt public activity. The crowd, dominated by BEM UI, highlighted several issues of current concern, including the weakening rupiah, the state budget, fuel price hikes, and the MBG programme. The complete list of student demands is: 1. Stop wasteful state budget spending. 2. Lower prices of staple goods and fuel. 3. Halt the MBG programme and the construction of Koperasi Desa Merah Putih. 4. End militarism in civilian affairs. 5. Demand Prabowo stop evading and admit the government’s mistakes.