Fahri Ali, Jakarta – Around 600 to 700 University of Indonesia (UI) students took to the streets on Tuesday, traveling from the university's Depok campus, just south of Jakarta, to join a protest at Jakarta's Hotel Indonesia Roundabout.
Wearing black clothing and yellow university jackets, the students headed to central Jakarta after 24 minibuses they had previously booked failed to arrive at their pickup point at the UI Faculty of Social and Political Sciences.
Student coordinator Hafidz Haernanda said the drivers had been intimidated and allegedly threatened with dismissal if they transported students to the protest.
"All 24 buses could not operate because they were intimidated," Hafidz claimed.
The students arranged around 50 other public minibuses at short notice to make the journey to Jakarta.
The students continued toward the Hotel Indonesia Roundabout, joining protesters from other universities. Along the way, they carried banners, posters and other protest materials and remained in groups despite the transportation problems.
Hafidz said students from other universities had also experienced transportation difficulties. He said the cancellations raised concerns about students' ability to exercise their right to express their views.
UI Rector Heri Hermansyah urged students to demonstrate peacefully, base their demands on data and analysis, wear university jackets and return to campus before nightfall.
Around 500 UI students were expected to join the protest alongside activists from other universities.
Held under the theme #MerebutKemerdekaan ("Reclaiming Independence"), the demonstration calls for lower prices, stronger action against corruption, agrarian reform, greater regional autonomy and an end to military and police intervention in civilian affairs.
Police and military personnel were deployed around the protest site ahead of the demonstration.