Why Students Chose Bundaran HI for Their Protest

The Chair of the University of Indonesia’s Student Executive Body (BEM UI), Yatalathof Ma’shum Imawan, has explained why students chose to demonstrate at the Bundaran Hotel Indonesia (HI) roundabout in Central Jakarta. BEM UI, together with several other student organisations, planned to hold an action titled ‘Menuju Indonesia Bangkrut’ (Towards a Bankrupt Indonesia) at the location on Friday, 12 June 2026.

According to Athof, Bundaran HI was selected because students no longer trust the House of Representatives (DPR) or the government. For this reason, they did not wish to protest in front of the DPR Building or the Presidential Palace, which are the usual locations for such actions.

Athof stated that the DPR and the government currently tend to speak with one voice on all policies, which he considers detrimental to the people. ‘Because of that, we no longer trust them enough to demonstrate there, at the DPR,’ he said.

By demonstrating at Bundaran HI, Athof hopes students can better raise public awareness about Indonesia’s condition, which is facing an economic and democratic crisis. ‘We want to make people aware that we are all suffering together,’ he said.

The student masses were blocked by the Greater Jakarta Metropolitan Regional Police (Polda Metro Jaya) as they were heading to Bundaran HI. The crowd from BEM UI was halted by security forces in the Semanggi area, Central Jakarta. Police asked them to change the protest location to the front of the DPR Building.

Athof questioned the blockade, assessing the police action as repressive. ‘Even though we had planned it and also sent a letter to the police stating that we would hold the action at Bundaran HI,’ he said.

Athof estimated that around a thousand students were detained on the road while heading to the Bundaran HI area. As of Friday afternoon, he said, they were still trying to reach the location.

The Head of Public Relations for Polda Metro Jaya, Senior Commissioner Budi Hermanto, said that Bundaran HI is a centre of public and economic activity. Because of this, he said, the public must understand that demonstrations cannot be held there. ‘Indeed, we know that the area around Bundaran HI is not a place for expressing aspirations,’ Budi said in a written statement on Friday.

Therefore, Polda Metro Jaya asked the students to change the protest point originally planned for Bundaran HI. Budi said demonstrators could hold the action in the area of the Arjuna Wijaya Statue, also known as the Horse Statue, or in front of the MPR/DPR/DPD Building.

As of Friday afternoon, a number of demonstrators from various backgrounds were already waiting for the student masses in the Bundaran HI area. They included workers and groups of mothers wanting to join the action. Some had been waiting since 10:00 WIB.

The mass action titled ‘Menuju Indonesia Bangkrut’ was initiated by an alliance of Student Executive Bodies (BEM) from the University of Indonesia (UI), IPB University, Jakarta State Polytechnic, Pancasila University, Gunadarma University, as well as student organisations such as the National Student Front and the Progressive Student Union, or Semar UI.

There are at least five demands in this action. The first is for the government to stop the waste of the State Budget (APBN). Second, lower the prices of staple goods and fuel (BBM). Third, halt the free nutritious meal programme and the construction of the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives. Fourth, the alliance also demands an end to militarism in the civilian sphere. Lastly, they are also asking President Prabowo Subianto to stop evading and to acknowledge the government’s mistakes.