Indonesian police explain student protest restrictions in Jakarta

Central Jakarta police have clarified their reasons for preventing students from protesting at the Patung Kuda (Horse Statue) area and Tugu Tani on Monday. The Head of Public Relations for the Central Jakarta Metropolitan Police, Inspector Erlyn Sumantri, stated that a "long-standing policy" now directs all protest activities to South Merdeka Square Road.

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Currently, every protest activity at the Patung Kuda area is provided a place on South Merdeka Square Road.

Sumantri denied that students were intercepted at the Tugu Tani area, asserting that personnel on duty facilitated their movement towards the designated protest zone. However, she did not specify the legal basis for restricting protests to South Merdeka Square Road.

This explanation contrasts with the experience of student leaders. Kurnia Arya Satya, Chairman of the Student Executive Board of Bung Karno University's Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, expressed puzzlement. He noted that police had previously indicated the Patung Kuda area would be accessible, especially considering the German President's visit to Indonesia. "We are also puzzled as to why we were only given access up to South Merdeka Square Road, while the previous notification and agreement was for the Patung Kuda area," Satya said.

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They were not intercepted.

Observations at Tugu Tani showed police forming a human barricade, blocking students' path towards East Merdeka Square Road. This obstruction led to pushing and shoving between the students and officers, contradicting the police's claim of facilitating movement.

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We are also puzzled as to why we were only given access up to South Merdeka Square Road, while the previous notification and agreement was for the Patung Kuda area.