TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Before being stopped at Dukuh Atas in Central Jakarta, students from the University of Indonesia Student Executive Board (BEM UI) encountered several obstacles while preparing to hold a protest on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
The obstacles included the cancellation of a command vehicle, dozens of Kopaja minibuses reportedly being unable to operate, and alleged pressure on several other student organizations not to join the demonstration.
Command Vehicle Canceled
BEM UI 2026 Social and Political Affairs Coordinator Muhammad Hafidz Haernanda, also known as Bapis, said the obstacles began during preparations for the protest.
BEM UI, he said, had contacted six command vehicles to support the demonstration, but none of the vehicles could ultimately be used.
“Bayangkan dari mobil komando saja kami sudah diambil,” Hafidz said at Dukuh Atas.
According to Hafidz, one of the command vehicle drivers said he had come under pressure from certain parties and feared losing his job if he continued transporting the students.
“I don’t blame the driver himself because they were, how should I put it, powerless in that position,” Hafidz said.
For BEM UI, the issue was not simply the loss of transportation. Command vehicles are used to coordinate protesters and convey their demands to the public. Without them, one of the main tools for mobilizing the demonstration was disrupted.
The students eventually brought a makeshift command vehicle assembled with whatever equipment was available.
24 Kopaja Minibuses Also Unavailable
Hafidz also said 24 Kopaja minibuses that had initially been arranged to transport students were unable to operate.
He linked the situation to alleged pressure on the vehicles and their drivers.
“Then 24 Kopaja disappeared in an instant because they were secured by various institutions,” Hafidz said.
However, Hafidz did not identify the institutions he alleged had seized or secured the vehicles. He also did not provide evidence of the alleged pressure on the drivers.
Other Student Groups Allegedly Intimidated
Hafidz said other student executive boards had also allegedly faced intimidation to prevent them from joining the demonstration.
He claimed that authorities had visited some campuses and threatened students. He also said he had received information about threats to revoke students’ Indonesia Smart College Cards (KIP-K), a government scholarship program, at one campus whose students ultimately did not attend the protest.
Despite the transportation problems, the students eventually chartered 36 public minivans to take protesters toward the demonstration site at the Hotel Indonesia (HI) Roundabout.
“Because what we put out to the public is a promise to the public,” Hafidz said. “Whether they take away the Kopaja, whether they take away the public minivans, we will still take TransJakarta.”
Students Stopped at Dukuh Atas
The protesters eventually reached the Dukuh Atas area but were stopped again by a police barricade that prevented them from proceeding to the HI Roundabout.
The students briefly negotiated with police officers stationed at the site, but were not allowed to continue. They proceeded to deliver their demands from Dukuh Atas before dispersing at around 6:10 p.m. on Tuesday.
Metro Jaya Police spokesperson Senior Commissioner Budi Hermanto said the decision to prevent protesters from holding the demonstration directly at the HI Roundabout was based on concerns about traffic disruption.
“Bundaran HI itu merupakan center of gravity Indonesia,” Budi said after the protesters dispersed Tuesday.
He said the area around the roundabout contains shopping centers, business districts, public transportation facilities and foreign consulates.
If traffic around the HI Roundabout were to come to a standstill, Budi said, congestion could spread toward the Patung Kuda area, Semanggi and Sudirman.
He added that disruptions on the main roads could also affect traffic in Slipi and Gatot Subroto.
“This will paralyze Jakarta if the HI Roundabout is used as a venue for conveying aspirations,” he said.