May Day 2026: 6,678 Joint Personnel to Secure Demonstration at DPR

A total of 6,678 joint personnel have been deployed to secure the demonstration marking Labour Day or May Day 2026 in front of the DPR building on Friday (1/6). The demonstration is being held by the Confederation of the Congress Alliance of Indonesian Trade Unions (KASBI) to the United Workers’ Movement with the People (GEBRAK). “The number of personnel involved in securing the area around the DPR-MPR totals 6,678 personnel,” said the Head of Public Relations of Metro Jaya Police, Commissioner Budi Hermanto, to reporters. “This combined force consists of 4,633 police personnel, 1,050 TNI personnel, 95 DKI Provincial Government personnel, 400 PAMDAL personnel, and 500 Satuan Kamtibmas personnel,” he added. Budi stated that the demonstration is estimated to be attended by 5,000 people from various regions, starting from Jakarta, Banten to West Java. Budi mentioned that representatives of the masses are scheduled to meet with DPR leaders in the afternoon to convey their aspirations. “The DPR leadership will receive the representatives. This is a negotiation, something that is well received from the representatives of the Indonesian DPR to accept the mass representatives,” he said. Furthermore, Budi mentioned that his side is also anticipating if there are groups of rioters infiltrating this labour demonstration. “If during this event there are other components that we identify as riot teams, who cause disturbances and provoke, the police will not hesitate to secure the individuals,” he stated. Budi emphasised that his side is only providing space to demonstration masses from labour elements, society to students who convey aspirations in an orderly manner and in accordance with applicable provisions. “Riot groups will not be given space in the DKI Jakarta area. The Satsgas team and the law enforcement action team will work to minimise and secure people who cause unrest in the Jakarta area,” said Budi. Previously, the KASBI Confederation (Congress Alliance of Indonesian Trade Unions) rejected joining the May Day Fiesta event at Monas scheduled to be attended by President Prabowo Subianto on Friday (1/5). KASBI General Chairman Sunarno stated that his organisation would hold an action in front of the DPR RI building. In addition, the action will also be held in many regions. “We from the KASBI Confederation together with the GEBRAK Alliance (United Workers’ Movement with the People) will carry out a protest action in front of the DPR RI building in Jakarta with an estimated mass of around 10,000 people,” said Sunarno in a written statement on Thursday (30/4). Sunarno stated that the action is an independent initiative and different from the May Day Fiesta celebration at Monas which is laden with mainstream narratives and power co-optation. “KASBI and the GEBRAK Alliance do not join the May Day Fiesta event at Monas with the President because the real labour conditions are still very concerning,” he said. “Where the guarantee of work certainty or labour relations status actually enters the labour market flexibility scheme, namely a work system that provides flexibility in fulfilling the normative rights of workers, or a work system that leads to the informalisation of the workforce,” he added. KASBI will also highlight the return of militarism in the Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka administration in the civilian sphere. He cited soldiers who are involved in managing the kitchen of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG), National Strategic Projects (PSN), and others that are rife with Corruption, Collusion, and Nepotism (KKN). “Even, in responding to criticism and differing public opinions, violence and criminalisation against people’s movement activists are often used over the past nearly 2 years,” said Sunarno.