Jakarta Govt Denies Banning Protests at Hotel Indonesia Roundabout

Jakarta's provincial government has refuted claims that it prohibited demonstrations at the Hotel Indonesia roundabout. Cyril Raoul Hakim, spokesperson for the Jakarta governor, stated that the provincial government fully supports the public's right to express opinions.

This response comes after reports that hundreds of students attempting to protest at the roundabout were blocked by police and military personnel. They were reportedly redirected to protest in front of the Indonesian Parliament (DPR/MPR) building.

The Jakarta Metropolitan Police, however, asserted they had a legal basis for prohibiting the demonstration in the area. Police spokesperson Komisaris Besar Budi Hermanto cited Gubernatorial Regulation No. 232 of 2015, which designates the Hotel Indonesia roundabout as a zone for community activities and business. He explained that allowing protests there would cause significant traffic jams and negatively impact the public.

Police stated their intention was to find a middle ground, facilitating the expression of grievances without disturbing other citizens. They localized protest sites to the front of the DPR/MPR building or Patung Kuda. The Central Jakarta Police Chief, Komisaris Besar Reynold E.P. Hutagalung, explained to protesters that allowing them to proceed to the roundabout would necessitate closing too many traffic lanes, inconveniencing the public.

However, the head of the Student Executive Council of the Faculty of Law at UI, Anandaku Dimas Rumi, claimed police blocked their progress without clear reason, reportedly laughing when asked to open the way. He also alleged that authorities hindered students from performing Friday prayers, forcing them to walk from the DPR to the TVRI area. Another student, Diallo, stated that police actively forced the protest to be relocated from the Hotel Indonesia roundabout to the front of the DPR building.