Students and Citizens Protest in Jakarta Over Government Policies
On Wednesday, October 28, 2026, student groups and civilian protesters broke through police barricades to stage a mass demonstration at the Hotel Indonesia Roundabout (Bundaran HI) in Central Jakarta, coinciding with Youth Pledge Day, BBC reported.
Authorities Block Roads as Demonstrators Clash
Demonstrators carried banners bearing slogans such as All Eyes on Karhutla
and Prabowo-Gibran Gagal Total
(BBC). Earlier in the day around 15:00 WIB, parts of the crowd were held back hundreds of meters away, with some students detained near the UOB Building (BBC).
The influx of crowds led to major traffic disruptions. According to Kompas, authorities closed traffic on Jalan Jenderal Sudirman and Jalan MH Thamrin, utilizing tactical vehicles from Brimob and police buses to blockade routes near Sarinah and Dukuh Atas.
Police Prioritize Professional Approach to Protests
Protesters voiced anger over several government policies.
Ahead of the demonstrations, provincial police commands across the board held readiness roll calls on Wednesday morning to prepare for public expressions of opinion (Tribrata News). National Police Public Relations Head Inspector General Johnny Eddizon Isir stated that the police prioritized a humanistic and professional approach while offering medical support for anyone needing health assistance (Tribrata News). Simultaneously, the Metro Depok Police tightened security and conducted selective vehicle inspections at the University of Indonesia (UI) Flyover and other border points to monitor groups traveling toward Jakarta (Pemerintah Kota Depok).
It remains unconfirmed whether further statewide demonstrations are planned for the coming days or how the government intends to formally respond to the specific demands raised by the protesters at Bundaran HI.