Police Deploy Cordons at Multiple Points to Prevent High School Students from Joining BEM UI Demonstration at Police Headquarters

Jakarta – The Metro Jaya Police Department has not only mobilised thousands of personnel to oversee the demonstration by the University of Indonesia Student Executive Board (BEM UI) at the National Police Headquarters in South Jakarta on Friday afternoon, 27 February 2026, but has also implemented security cordons at multiple locations to prevent high school students and equivalent from being drawn into the protest.

This approach is informed by previous demonstrations that have frequently attracted participants beyond the student element. Police seek to ensure the protest is conducted strictly in accordance with the terms of the authorisation granted.

Budi Hermanto, Head of Public Relations at Metro Jaya Police Department, stated that all 13 police districts under Metro Jaya Police Department command have been deployed in the security and cordon operations.

“Beyond service provision for the demonstration at this location, we have also involved 13 district police units and community elements in establishing cordons,” he said.

Budi emphasised that police had already issued appeals to university campuses and student organisations to ensure the demonstration remains purely student-led without involvement of external parties.

“We have also issued guidance to student organisations and campuses that if the expression of opinion is genuinely from students, it should not involve certain groups. I should mention that certain groups have exploited every occasion of expression of opinion,” he stated.

According to him, the presence of parties “exploiting” the demonstration could damage the substance of the protest and provoke disorder.

“Ultimately, this can tarnish the action expressed by those who should be protected by law and constitution. But it becomes flawed because of such exploitations. That is why the police department and district police units are implementing cordons,” he said.

Previously reported, thousands of police personnel have been deployed to oversee the protest action by the University of Indonesia Student Executive Board (BEM UI) scheduled at the National Police Headquarters in South Jakarta on Friday afternoon, 27 February 2026.

A total of 3,093 personnel from Metro Jaya Police Department have been deployed to ensure the demonstration titled as criticism over the death of student Arianto Tawakal (14) of MTsN 1 Southeast Maluku proceeds peacefully. As known, the case has implicated Brimob member Bripda Mesias Siahaya, who currently holds suspect status and has been subject to ethical sanctions.