Pramono Thanks All Parties for Protecting Public Facilities During 28 October Demonstration

Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung described the condition of the capital after the #IndonesiaSadar demonstration, held on Wednesday (28 October) to coincide with Youth Pledge Day.

“According to the reports I received up to last night, there was no damage to any public facilities in Jakarta,” Pramono said in South Jakarta on Thursday morning (29 October).

Pramono said the demonstration, held the previous day at several locations including the Bundaran HI area, had proceeded well.

The Orange Troops, or the Public Infrastructure and Facilities Management Agency (PPSU), were deployed to clean up after the demonstration ended.

“Until one o’clock in the morning, the Orange Troops, coordinated directly by the Central Jakarta mayor, were cleaning the locations where demonstrations had taken place. By two o’clock, thankfully, all facilities in Jakarta were clean,” he said.

Pramono then expressed his gratitude to a number of parties, saying that they had made a joint effort to ensure the demonstration went smoothly.

“I would also like to thank everyone for their collective efforts, especially the Indonesian National Armed Forces and the National Police, and of course the demonstrators, who continued to protect the public facilities we share,” Pramono said.

He reiterated that Jakarta belongs to everyone and that all parties should work together to look after the city.

“Jakarta belongs to all of us, so we must take care of it together. I am grateful that yesterday went well,” he said.

The #IndonesiaSadar demonstration was held on Wednesday (28 October) around Bundaran HI and along Sudirman-Thamrin. Students from several universities and other groups took to the streets with five demands for President Prabowo Subianto and Vice-President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

According to CNNIndonesia.com’s observations at the scene, demonstrators began dispersing at 7.45pm.

Meanwhile, Metro Jaya Regional Police said they had detained 19 people in connection with Wednesday’s demonstration in Jakarta. Police said those detained were found with evidence including bladed weapons and firecrackers.

“Nineteen people were detained. They were carrying firecrackers, some had bladed weapons, and items that would be used for vandalism were also found,” Metro Jaya Police public relations chief Budi Hermanto told reporters on Thursday.

Metro Jaya Police criminal investigation director Imron Ermawan said the 19 people were still being questioned.

“As of this morning, the 19 people are still being questioned by investigators. We will hopefully provide an update on the final outcome this afternoon or evening,” he said.

Imron said one of those detained was under 18 and was being handled by the Metro Jaya Police’s Women and Children Protection and Protection of Women and Children (PPA/PPO) directorate.

He added that police had seized paint which was suspected of being intended for vandalism.

“Metro Jaya Police have seized paint or colouring materials suspected of being intended for vandalism yesterday. The person was apprehended, and 12 items of paint were seized,” he said.

Separately, the Team for the Advocacy of Democracy (TAUD), comprising various organisations and non-governmental networks, said it had accompanied 11 demonstrators who were arrested during questioning until around 4am.

“Some of those arrested also experienced violence during their arrest,” TAUD said in a post on the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute’s account on X.

In its thread, TAUD said police were investigating the detainees on suspicion of offences under Articles 256 and/or 354 of the new Criminal Code.

“These provisions in the new Criminal Code could potentially be used to silence freedom of assembly and expression,” the group said.