Police Chief Urges Protesters to Avoid Anarchy, Promises Humane Security
National Police Chief General Suyudi Ario Seto has urged all members of the public planning to hold demonstrations not to engage in acts of violence.
He asked protesters to demonstrate safely and peacefully so as not to disrupt public security and order.
“We urge people not to commit acts of violence,” he told reporters at National Police Headquarters on Wednesday (28 October).
He said police across the country had prepared security arrangements and would serve members of the public wishing to express their views in public.
“We will continue security efforts throughout Indonesia. We will prioritise a humane approach and continue preventive and pre-emptive measures,” he said.
“And, of course, we will continue to respect all expressions of opinion in public,” he added.
The Committee to Save the People’s Sovereignty (SADAR) is holding a demonstration at the HI Roundabout in Central Jakarta on Wednesday (28 October), coinciding with Youth Pledge Day.
The SADAR Committee is a student alliance comprising student executive bodies and organisations from several universities, including the University of Indonesia Student Executive Board (BEM UI), the Bandung Institute of Technology Student Family (KM ITB), the Gadjah Mada University Student Senate (SEMA UGM), Diponegoro University Student Executive Board (BEM Undip), Brawijaya University Student Executive Board (EM UB), Semarang State University Student Executive Board (BEM KM Unnes), Airlangga University Student Executive Board (BEM Unair), and the Padjadjaran University-wide Student Executive Board Alliance.
SADAR representative Namoradiarta Siahaan said the demonstration was a continuation of a rally held on 20 October.
In a statement from the committee, Namora said Wednesday’s action would carry the same message: demanding government accountability and affirming that the people are not merely objects of state administration.
“The people’s voices must determine the direction of development, oversee the use of the budget, defend their living spaces and enable criticism to be voiced without fear,” Namora said.
The committee has put forward five main demands. First, it is urging the government to declare forest fires a national disaster, prosecute the corporations responsible and complete the integration of land governance.
Second, it wants the state budget to be directed as fully as possible towards public needs, and wasteful political spending disguised as populist programmes—such as the Free Nutritious Meals programme (MBG) and the Food Self-Sufficiency Village Cooperatives (KDMP)—to be stopped.
Third, the protesters are calling for lower education costs and more equal access to basic services.
The fourth and fifth demands include ending the use of the law as an instrument of power, eradicating corruption, collusion and nepotism, restoring freedom of expression, resolving human rights abuse cases and ending the militarisation of civilian spaces.