Students Hold Ground in Front of UOB Building

Hundreds of students staging a protest on Jalan Jenderal Sudirman in Central Jakarta on Tuesday (18/8) remained in front of the UOB Building after access to the Hotel Indonesia (HI) roundabout was restricted by security forces. The crowd moved towards the HI roundabout to deliver their demands, but police formed a barricade in front of UOB Plaza, preventing the demonstrators from continuing towards the roundabout. The crowd gathered around a command vehicle, taking turns to voice their aspirations through loudspeakers at 4.15 p.m. Western Indonesia Time. UOB Plaza was designated as the point for conveying aspirations to anticipate traffic congestion and maintain public activity in the area. The students held their ground while shouting demands for security forces to open access to the HI roundabout. Joint TNI-Polri personnel were deployed in the Thamrin area and its surroundings to secure the demonstration. Polda Metro Jaya deployed 9,242 personnel to secure the series of activities and maintain public security and order. The demonstration was part of students conveying their aspirations, one of which was initiated by the University of Indonesia Student Executive Board (BEM UI).