Jakarta – More than 1,000 students from various organizations staged separate protests in front of the State Palace in Central Jakarta on Thursday.

The students came from various organizations such as the Executive Body of the Indonesian Alliance of Students (BEM), the United Front of Indonesian Muslim Students (KAMMI), the Indonesian Muslim Students Movement (PMII), and the Muhammadiyah Students Association (IMM).

KAMMI head of public policy division Barri Pratama told the Jakarta Post on Thursday that the organization protested against foreign companies that were taking over the economy from Indonesians.

Almost all of the students criticized President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's moves, including his choice of what they deemed as poorly performing ministers. The students also chanted hostile threats against Jokowi, but the rally passed off peacefully.

The Jakarta Police have stated that 50 students from BEM would be let in to the State Palace as they demanded to meet the President or they would sleep in front of the palace. The Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Unggung Cahyono said that 20 student representatives had been let in so far.

However, the traffic around the area was halted due to the protest, with Jl. Merdeka Utara near Monas, Central Jakarta, closed to road users. (fsu)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/05/21/students-rally-front-state-palace.html