Street Photographers Continue Operating Without Official Permission at National Monument
JAKARTA – Commercial activities, including street photography operations, are not officially permitted to operate in the Monas (National Monument) area in Central Jakarta.
This was stated by Muhammad Isa Sarnuri, Head of the Monas Area Management Unit (UPK), when contacted by Kompas.com on Friday (27 February 2026).
Isa stated that the Monas area is a public space managed under strict regulations, including a prohibition on buying and selling transactions in the main area.
“General or commercial photographers are not permitted, because commercial activities are not allowed in the Monas area,” said Isa via text message.
He explained that the principle of managing the Monas area is to maintain the function of public open space and cultural heritage in order to remain orderly and comfortable for all visitors.
All forms of transactional activities, according to him, are not permitted to take place within the core zone.
“The principle is that commercial activities (transactions, buying and selling) within the Monas area are not permitted, except in the Lenggang Jakarta area,” he said.
Lenggang Jakarta is an area specifically prepared for micro-enterprise activities and traders regulated by the management. Outside this designated location, all forms of buying and selling transactions are considered to violate regulations.
Isa added that if internal security officers discover commercial activities in the main area, the action taken is to escort the business operator out of the area.
“So if there are photographers in the area, security will escort them out,” he said.
This statement confirms that under regulations, paid photography services on the Monas grounds have no legal basis. However, in practice, this activity continues to this day.
One photographer, Rudi, carries a portable printer in his bag that is ready to print photos within minutes.
Rudi does not deny that he does not have official permission to sell photography services in the area.
“If we’re talking about official permission, there isn’t any, ma’am. We’re just trying to make a living here,” said Rudi when met directly.
Rudi has worked as a street photographer at Monas for many years. He understands his position in a regulatory grey area.
Nevertheless, he said the photographers try to maintain order so as not to cause problems with management or visitors.
“We also know our place. Don’t force visitors, don’t cause trouble. Basically just maintain good behaviour,” he said.
Rudi acknowledged being warned by officers before, but it did not result in permanent expulsion.
“We’ve been cautioned sometimes, but we haven’t been continuously expelled. As long as we don’t make a mess, don’t bother visitors, things are usually fine,” said Rudi.
He estimated that the number of active street photographers at Monas reaches around 30 people, although not all are present every day.
“At full capacity there can be around 30 people. But they’re not always all there; some come in the afternoon, some in the evening,” he said.