Police Urge Protesters to Avoid Bundaran HI, Suggest Alternative Locations
Jakarta Metropolitan Police have asked mass groups not to hold demonstrations in the Bundaran HI area of Central Jakarta. Police said Bundaran HI through to Sudirman serves as a centre of public activity and the economy.
“We all know that Bundaran HI, Patung Kuda, Semanggi, and Sudirman are the centre of gravity in the Jakarta area. They are centres of the economy, international hospitality, public activity, shopping centres, and transport modes,” said Jakarta Police Head of Public Relations Senior Commissioner Budi Hermanto to reporters on Tuesday (18/8/2026).
Budi said that if these locations were used as protest sites, they would disrupt public activities. Police urged that demonstrations be held at several other points instead.
“If these places are used for conveying aspirations, they will disrupt other public activities. We must build empathy; we must think that public activities are also important,” he said.
“A location has been prepared at the DPR RI. If the protest is directed at the Palace, a location has been prepared at the southern crossing of Monas, and several other points at ministries and institutions have also prepared locations,” he added.
Budi said Jakarta Police are ready to escort demonstrations so that they proceed in an orderly manner. Police also urged the masses to comply with existing regulations.
“Jakarta Police and the Jayakarta Regional Military Command greatly appreciate members of the public and community elements who wish to carry out activities to convey their aspirations in public. With prior notification, we will prepare personnel for the implementation of these activities,” he explained.
Budi said a total of 9,242 personnel have been deployed to secure the demonstrations. The personnel were deployed to secure 31 demonstrations and 16 public activities within the jurisdiction of Jakarta Police.
For information, the University of Indonesia Student Executive Board (BEM UI) will also hold a demonstration in the Bundaran HI area of Central Jakarta today.
BEM UI Chairperson Yatalatof Imawan previously said that today’s demonstration is titled #MerebutKemerdekaan. BEM UI apologised in advance if the demonstration causes traffic congestion.
“To the residents of Jakarta, we apologise for today’s congestion. But remember: this traffic congestion is only for a few hours, whereas the structural congestion, the congestion of employment, and the forced congestion of justice have lasted eighty-one years and continue to worsen,” said BEM UI Chairperson Yatalatof Imawan on Tuesday (18/8/2026).
The following are BEM UI’s eight demands in today’s demonstration:
Stop the state’s colonisation of its own people
Stop Corruption, Collusion, and Nepotism (KKN)
Realise genuine agrarian reform
Lower the prices of basic necessities and fuel
Conduct a total evaluation of National Strategic Projects (PSN) and stop the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) and KDMP programmes
Stop the centralisation of power, the reduction of Regional Transfers (TKD), and restore regional autonomy
Declare a national disaster status for the Sumatra and Flores regions and accelerate the recovery of disaster-affected areas
Stop repressive actions and TNI-Polri intervention in civilian spaces and disband YON TP