Students Blockaded by Police and TNI Before Reaching Bundaran HI

A group of students intending to stage a protest at the Hotel Indonesia (HI) Roundabout in Jakarta were met with a blockade by security forces. Not only were they obstructed by the police, but the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) also joined in blocking the student procession heading to the protest site.

Based on Republika’s monitoring at 4:00 PM Western Indonesian Time, the group of hundreds of students was still being held back by TNI and police personnel on Jalan MH Thamrin, precisely in front of the UOB Building. The students were unable to continue their journey to the HI Roundabout area.

The student crowd continuously shouted, demanding that the security forces open the blockade so they could carry out their protest at the Bundaran HI.

Earlier, the student procession had also been obstructed in the Semanggi area on Friday afternoon. The students were directed to hold their protest in front of the DPR Building. Afterwards, the students undertook a long march towards the HI Roundabout, but were once again blocked by police and TNI personnel.