Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH) found allegations of violations and restrictions on freedom of expression by the police during the "Indonesia Sadar" protest at the Hotel Indonesia (HI) Roundabout in Jakarta on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. Restrictions included blocking protesters' movement and searching demonstrators.
"Based on our field monitoring results, we found many arbitrary sweeps, violence, and restrictions on mobilizing protesters," said LBH Jakarta lawyer Alif Fauzi Nurwidiastomo in a statement on Thursday, October 29, 2026.
LBH Jakarta found restrictions at several locations: the HI Integrated Mode Station, the Gondangdia Station, the HI Roundabout, the United Overseas Bank building, and various other places that became police checkpoints.
Alif criticized the blocking of protest mobilization before reaching the HI Roundabout. There is no prohibition on protests at the HI Roundabout as stipulated in Article 9 paragraph (2) of Law Number 9 of 1998 concerning the Freedom to Express an Opinion in Public.
He also said sweeping and protest handling contradict the purpose of protecting human rights guaranteed by Law Number 9 of 1998. The authorities should facilitate the organization of demonstrations to channel aspirations.
"The searches conducted by the Indonesian National Police are baseless because there are no allegations of criminal acts against protesters who are randomly swept," Alif said.
During the protest on October 28, 2026, crowds began arriving in Central Jakarta area since noon. The demonstrators appeared to carry flags from the Student Executive Board (BEM) of the University of Indonesia (UI), BEM of Airlangga University, the National Student Front, the Indonesian Women's Union, and the Indonesian Reformers. However, authorities held back groups heading to the HI Roundabout in the Dukuh Atas area.
BEM UI also reported two incidents where authorities acted repressively against UI students. BEM UI Head of the Strategic Studies Department, Namora Siahaan, reported allegations of beating and an attempt to arrest one of the BEM officials, Muhammad Abid.
"As of now, Abid has received medical care," Namora said on Thursday, October 29, 2026, a few hours after the demonstration ended.
An arrest also occurred of another BEM staff member, Javasun Akas. Namora stated that Javasun was detained on unclear charges at the Metro Jaya Regional Police. "Akas is still undergoing an interrogation that should last a maximum of 1x 24 hours, accompanied by the LBH Jakarta lawyer, the Advocacy Team for Democracy, and the Alumni Association of the University of Indonesia," he said.
Tempo attempted to contact the Head of the Public Relations Division of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, Commissioner Budi Hermanto, regarding allegations of restrictions and violence by authorities during the demonstration on October 28, 2026. As of the time this article was written, he had not responded to Tempo's request for an interview.