Police Intercept University Students Marching to Protest in Jakarta

Central Jakarta police intercepted a planned protest by the Bung Karno University Student Executive Board (BEM UBK) in the Tugu Tani area. Officers formed a barricade, blocking the students' path and leading to a confrontation involving pushing and shoving. The students asserted their right to express public grievances, questioning the police's authority to prevent their movement. The protest, themed "Reshape Indonesia," aimed to present six demands to President Prabowo Subianto's administration. Key demands included a temporary halt and evaluation of the free nutritious meal project and the Red-and-White Village Cooperative, a review of the Police Law, and an end to militarism in favor of civilian supremacy. They also called for strategic government measures to stabilize the rupiah exchange rate and national economic resilience, alongside demands for inclusive and affordable education. Finally, the students urged a review of fuel price increases, citing the burden on the public. BEM UBK had anticipated around 200 participants, but the number grew with the addition of other campus organizations. This action follows a similar student protest by the University of Indonesia's BEM alliance that was intercepted the previous week.

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