Police Explain Reasons for Asking Protesters Not to Rally at Bundaran HI, Affirm Support for Constitutional Rights
Jakarta Metro Police have explained their appeal for student demonstrators not to hold rallies in the Bundaran HI area of Central Jakarta, while affirming their support for citizens’ constitutional rights to express their aspirations. The Head of Public Relations for Polda Metro Jaya, Commissioner Budi Hermanto, stressed the police’s commitment to safeguarding and guaranteeing the freedom of expression in public, including the students currently voicing their concerns. He stated that public expression is a constitutional right fully guaranteed by law.
“However, the execution of protests in the DKI Jakarta area must comply with applicable regulations, one of which is Governor Regulation (Pergub) DKI Jakarta No. 232/2015. 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 activities, and a sense of security,” explained Commissioner Budi Hermanto in a statement on Friday (12/6/2026).
As the primary rationale for this appeal, the police emphasised compliance with Article 6 of Law No. 9/1998 on the 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 to maintain public order. “Therefore, constitutional freedom of expression must go hand in hand with respect for the mobility rights of the wider community,” he said.
Budi Hermanto reiterated that the prohibition on demonstrations in the Bundaran HI area is not intended to curb freedom of speech. Rather, the police view this restriction as being based solely on technical assessments and a very in-depth analysis of social impact on the ground, given that the Jalan Jenderal Sudirman and Jalan MH Thamrin corridor is the epicentre of the city’s traffic circulation engine.
“The police are not at all limiting or preventing our student brothers and sisters from expressing their aspirations. However, referring to the mandate of Law No. 9/1998 to respect the rights of others, we strongly urge that the Bundaran HI area be sterilised from protest activities. A mass concentration at that point carries a high risk of triggering total traffic paralysis with a domino effect on arterial routes. Moreover, the area is a strategic mass transit hub, such as the MRT station and Transjakarta integration bus stops, which are the backbone of commuter mobility, and it is a zone of vital economic objects and international hotels whose stability we must jointly safeguard,” he detailed.
To accommodate the students’ right to voice their opinions representatively and safely without sacrificing city order, the police reminded that the government has provided three official alternative spaces in accordance with Article 4 of Pergub DKI No. 232/2015. These locations are designed to accommodate crowds without paralysing the city’s logistical transport arteries, namely the Silang Selatan Monas, Parkir Timur Senayan, and the Alun-Alun Demokrasi DPR/MPR RI.
Polda Metro Jaya assured that personnel on the ground will continue to prioritise a preventive and humanist approach, upholding the principle of ultimum remedium in overseeing every public expression action. Good synergy and communication between the student corps and officers are expected to be maintained so that the delivery of aspirations can proceed intelligently, orderly, and constructively.
Budi Hermanto appealed to all elements of society to jointly maintain a conducive situation in the capital. Road users are urged to comply with the directions of officers on the ground and to anticipate travel routes if congestion increases. “If the public requires an escort, the latest traffic flow information, or wishes to report potential security disturbances, please access the official police channels or utilise the official Polri 110 emergency call centre service for fast and responsive handling,” he concluded.