Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – Officers from the Jakarta Metropolitan Police apprehended dozens of people shortly before a student protest at the Hotel Indonesia (HI) Roundabout in Central Jakarta. Police arrested them at various locations surrounding the protest site.

The Head of Public Relations for the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, Senior Commissioner Budi Hermanto, stated that 21 people were arrested on suspicion of planning to incite a riot. "They are currently being questioned at the Jakarta Metropolitan Police's General Criminal Investigation Directorate," Budi said on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.

Budi stated that the dozens of individuals were found carrying dangerous items to the protest site. They had reportedly prepared flares and various other materials for assembling Molotov cocktails.

According to Budi, these individuals are believed not to be part of the student group planning to stage a protest. "They aim to incite conflict between security personnel and the demonstrators," Budi said in his statement to reporters.

University of Indonesia Student Executive Board (BEM UI), together with various other student groups, held a protest titled "Reclaiming Independence" on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 18, 2026. The demonstration took place one day after Indonesia's independence celebrations.

BEM UI Chairperson Yatalathof Ma'shum Imawan stated that the student groups taking to the streets today were not there to join in independence celebrations. "But to ask loudly: what kind of independence are we actually celebrating?" he said in a statement on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.

According to Yatalathof, sovereignty today has been mortgaged through trade agreements that bow to foreign interests. He states that the voices of the people are being silenced and that critical groups are being arrested at random by the authorities.

– Novali Panji Nugroho contributed to this article

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2117772/21-arrested-ahead-of-bem-ui-protest-at-hi-roundabou