Police Deploy Intelligence to Divert Student Protest at Bundaran HI

Polda Metro Jaya has announced it will divert a planned student demonstration from the Bundaran HI area to the Patung Kuda monument or the DPR building in Jakarta today, Friday (12/6).

Head of Public Relations for Polda Metro Jaya, Commissioner Budi Hermanto, stated that his party has coordinated with the Directorate of Intelligence to shift the crowd’s gathering point from Bundaran HI. As an alternative, he said the masses can continue their action in the parliamentary complex area or at Patung Kuda on Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, Central Jakarta.

“We, from the Directorate of Intelligence, have also communicated to divert the point from Bundaran HI to around Patung Kuda or in front of the DPR/MPR,” Budi said at the parliamentary complex on Friday (12/6).

Budi stated that the total joint personnel deployed to secure today’s protest amounts to 6,088 officers. They come from various units, including 500 TNI personnel, 1,000 Mobile Brigade Corps personnel, 200 BKO from the Sabhara Corps, 3,802 Polda Metro Jaya personnel, and 586 Central Jakarta Metro Police personnel.

Officers will be stationed at several points, such as the Patung Kuda area, the DPR/MPR parliamentary complex, Bundaran HI, and the Cikini Raya area.

“The expression of public aspirations is protected by law. Therefore, the presence of Polri and TNI officers in carrying out this service is to ensure that the aspirations conveyed by these students are properly delivered,” Budi said.

Separately, the Chairman of the UI Faculty of Law Student Executive Board, Anandaku Dimas, confirmed the plan to hold the action at the Bundaran HI area. He said the estimated turnout from UI alone would reach 500, not including masses from other campus student executive boards.

“It remains the same, at Bundaran HI, and the estimate from UI is more than 500, and later there will be participants from other campuses as well,” Dimas said when contacted.

During the protest, students will bring five demands: first, urging the government to stop wasting the state budget. Second, to lower the prices of basic necessities and fuel. Third, to halt the MBG programme and the construction of Koperasi Desa Merah Putih. Fourth, to stop civilian militarisation, and fifth, to demand that President Prabowo Subianto stop evading responsibility and acknowledge the government’s mistakes.

“Whether this will become a second wave of Reformasi or not, perhaps that could be part of our rhetoric,” Dimas said.