29 October Protests at 61 Sites in Jakarta: Trisakti Students Rally Near Monas, 9 Transjakarta Routes Adjusted

JAKARTA — Protests took place again at several locations in Jakarta on Thursday, 29 October 2026, a day after a large rally around Bundaran HI coinciding with Youth Pledge Day. Jakarta Metro Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Budi Hermanto recorded 61 protest sites and 17 other public activities that day.

“So there are several protest points today: 61 sites where people are expressing their views, and 17 other public activities,” Budi told reporters at Bundaran HI.

The protests were spread across ministry offices and private companies, the DPR/MPR parliament building, and the area around the Merdeka Palace. They included rallies by the Victims’ Solidarity Network for Justice (JSKK) at Taman Pandang Monas, the Indonesian Women’s National Coalition in front of the parliament building, Jakarta State University (UNJ) students around Tugu Tani, and protests in front of the Jakarta Regional Council (DPRD) and the Ministry of MSMEs.

Trisakti Students Bring “Tritura”

One rally was held by about 500 Trisakti University students at Silang Selatan Monas, opposite the Danareksa Building on Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan, starting at around 4 p.m. Wearing their navy-blue university jackets, they marched from the Tugu Tani area led by a command vehicle.

The students brought three demands they called “Tritura” (Three Demands of the People):

• Restoring the national economy, ecology, education, politics, and health.
• Eradicating incompetence and multiple job-holding among public officials.
• Upholding civilian supremacy.

9 Transjakarta Routes Adjusted

Because of the rally around Medan Merdeka Selatan, PT Transportasi Jakarta adjusted nine routes passing through the City Hall area and Central Jakarta. As of 4:30 p.m., according to Transjakarta’s head of public relations and CSR Ayu Wardhani:

Shortened routes:

• 6A (Ragunan–Balai Kota via Kuningan) and 6B (Ragunan–Balai Kota via Semanggi): not serving Bundaran HI to Balai Kota stops.
• 5M (Kampung Melayu–Tanah Abang): toward Tanah Abang, not serving the Balai Kota bus stop and Tanah Abang Station stop; toward Kampung Melayu, not serving the Kapal Api and MNC bus stops.
• 1A (Balai Kota–Pantai Maju): not serving the Balai Kota bus stop and station.

Diverted routes:

• 7F (Kampung Rambutan–Juanda): not serving Balai Kota and Monas stops.
• 5C (PGC 1–Juanda): not serving the Balai Kota stop.
• 2Q (Gondangdia Station–Balai Kota): not serving the south side of Gondangdia Station to Danareksa.
• 2A (Pulogadung 1–Rawa Buaya): not serving Balai Kota in either direction or Gambir 1.
• 1P (Senen–Blok M): diverted.

“We apologize for the inconvenience to passengers caused by these adjustments,” Ayu said. Passengers were advised to check the latest updates on the TJ: Transjakarta app and the company’s official social media. The Jakarta Metro Police traffic directorate also urged drivers to avoid protest areas, use alternative routes, plan their travel time, and follow officers’ directions.

Lawmaker Outlines Procedures for Military Involvement

Meanwhile, the presence of military (TNI) personnel at the security operation around Bundaran HI the day before drew public attention. TB Hasanuddin, a member of DPR Commission I, explained that involving the TNI in protest security is governed by specific rules.

“Involving the TNI cannot be done arbitrarily, because there are legal procedures and requirements that must be met.”

TB Hasanuddin, Member of DPR Commission I

He said military involvement in protests with the potential for social conflict is governed by Law No. 7 of 2012 on Handling Social Conflict, Articles 44–45 of Government Regulation No. 2 of 2015, and the provisions on Military Operations Other Than War in Article 7 of the TNI Law. A request for deployment must be submitted to the President, and in the field, TNI personnel operate under the operational control of the police.

“The point is, every TNI deployment must have a clear legal basis and follow the applicable procedures. This is important so the TNI carries out its duties within the bounds of the law and doesn’t create new problems,” TB Hasanuddin said. He also stressed that protests should be handled in accordance with the law, maintaining public order while respecting the public’s right to express their views.

Read also: On Youth Pledge Day, BEM UI Students Rally at Bundaran HI Alongside Workers and Farmers.

Summarized from Kompas.com, Kompas.com, and Kompas.com (in Indonesian).