Minister Pigai Says Clearing of Bundaran HI Protesters Complied with Rules

Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai has stated that the security forces’ action to clear the Bundaran Hotel Indonesia (HI) area of student protesters last week did not restrict the public’s right to express opinions, but was instead in accordance with regulations. “There is no restriction of rights, that is called regulation. ‘You don’t need to demonstrate at Bundaran HI, but you can demonstrate at Lapangan Banteng.’ That is allowed by the rules. It is regulation,” Pigai said when met at the DPR Building, Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday (17/6/2026).

According to Pigai, the government can regulate the conduct of public demonstrations. “If the main protocol road is not allowed, then access is provided to express opinions elsewhere. That is permissible. It is called regulation,” he said. Pigai stated that such regulation is in line with the Siracusa Principles, an international guideline on the limitation or derogation of human rights implementation contained in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

A crowd of demonstrators from several Jakarta universities was prevented from entering the Bundaran HI area in Central Jakarta after being blocked on Jalan MH Thamrin by security personnel on duty. Hundreds of students wearing jackets from various universities had marched from the Semanggi area towards Bundaran HI. They arrived on Jalan MH Thamrin at around 2.30 p.m. Western Indonesian Time carrying various demonstration paraphernalia. However, the crowd was unable to enter the Bundaran HI area because officers formed a blockade across part of Jalan MH Thamrin.