Police Explain Military Involvement in Securing Student Protest
The security operation for a student demonstration around the Bundaran HI roundabout in Central Jakarta involved the Indonesian military (TNI). Police explained that the military’s involvement is mandated by a DKI Jakarta Gubernatorial Regulation.
“In Gubernatorial Regulation Number 232 of 2015, there is a provision concerning certain points: Bundaran Senayan, Bundaran Semanggi, Bundaran HI, and Patung Kuda,” said Polda Metro Jaya Head of Public Relations, Commissioner Budi Hermanto, at the location on Friday (12/6/2026).
“These are areas that are actually not permitted for the delivery of aspirations,” he added.
According to him, the area is the centre of the capital city of Jakarta. Additionally, there are several mass transportation routes used by the public.
“This is the epicentre of traffic. If congestion occurs, it impacts other arterial routes. These traffic jams then affect other members of the public,” he explained.
He stated that police officers will safeguard the expression of opinions humanely and will not be easily provoked. This was emphasised by Polda Metro Jaya Chief, Commissioner General Asep Edi Suheri, since the security briefing earlier.
Currently, the protesting crowd remains gathered around Jalan MH Thamrin, precisely near the Tosari bus stop. The crowd consists of students from several universities.
The protesters’ demands are:
Stop the waste of the state budget (APBN)
Lower the prices of basic necessities and fuel (BBM)
Halt the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme and the construction of Merah Putih Village Cooperatives
Stop militarism in the civilian sphere
Prabowo must stop evading and admit the government’s mistakes
Police Offer Protesters to Move to DPR or Patung Kuda
Previously, Polda Metro Jaya explained its reasons for urging the student crowd not to hold a demonstration in the Bundaran HI area of Central Jakarta. The police stressed that they continue to support the constitutional rights of citizens to express their aspirations.
Polda Metro Jaya Head of Public Relations, Commissioner Budi Hermanto, affirmed the National Police’s commitment to safeguarding and guaranteeing the freedom of expression in public, including for students currently voicing their aspirations. Expressing opinions in public is a constitutional right fully guaranteed by law.
“However, the implementation of actions in the DKI Jakarta area must comply with applicable regulatory corridors, one of which is DKI Jakarta Gubernatorial Regulation No. 232 of 2015. This rule exists as a pacing and balancing instrument to balance the rights of demonstrators to speak out with the rights of hundreds of thousands of other Jakarta residents to comfort, smooth activity, and a sense of security,” Commissioner Budi Hermanto explained in a statement.
As the main rationale for this appeal, the police emphasised compliance with Article 6 of Law Number 9 of 1998 concerning Freedom to Express Opinions in Public.
The regulation explicitly mandates that in exercising their rights, every citizen has a legal obligation to respect the rights of others and maintain public order.
“Therefore, constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression must go hand in hand with respect for the mobility rights of the wider community,” he said.