Police Say BEM UI Demo Last Friday Lacked Official Notification, Received Only PDF Via WhatsApp

Indonesian police have stated that a protest organized by the University of Indonesia's Student Executive Board (BEM UI) on June 12, 2026, did not follow official notification procedures. According to the Central Jakarta Police Chief, Kombes Pol Reynold EP Hutagalung, the initial information received about the planned demonstration in the Bundaran Hotel Indonesia area was in the form of a PDF document sent via WhatsApp. Police consider this method insufficient for official notification. Hutagalung explained that his office received the PDF on June 11, 2026, around 2:56 AM WIB. Subsequent attempts to communicate further with the student representative who sent the message on the morning of the protest yielded no response. He cited Article 10 of Law Number 9 of 1998 concerning Freedom of Expression in Public, which mandates that the person in charge of a demonstration must submit an official notification directly to the police at least 72 hours before the event. "According to the rules, the person in charge of the action is obliged to submit the notification letter directly to the police. Until the action took place, we did not receive any official notification," Reynold stated. Despite the lack of official notice, the police reportedly provided security at the location to ensure the demonstration proceeded safely and orderly. Hutagalung acknowledged the right to public expression but urged adherence to established procedures to maintain public order. He encouraged all groups planning to voice their aspirations to comply with administrative requirements for safe and non-disruptive events.

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According to the rules, the person in charge of the action is obliged to submit the notification letter directly to the police. Until the action took place, we did not receive any official notification.