Jakarta. Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung has urged demonstrators to maintain public order during rallies in the capital on Wednesday, saying schools would remain open and students would attend classes as usual.

“Jakarta belongs to all of us. So we must take care of Jakarta together. Demonstrations are a democratic right,” Pramono told reporters at Jakarta City Hall on Wednesday.

Pramono said he hoped Wednesday’s demonstrations, as well as future protests, would proceed peacefully without disrupting public activities or residents’ daily routines.

“For today, there is no distance learning. Students will continue attending school as usual,” he said.

The demonstrations on Oct. 28 coincide with Indonesia’s Youth Pledge Day, which commemorates the 1928 declaration of unity by young Indonesians that helped lay the foundation for the country’s independence movement.

The University of Indonesia Student Executive Board (BEM UI), together with the Komite Selamatkan Daulat Rakyat (Komite SADAR), plans to hold a rally under the banner #IndonesiaSadar at the Hotel Indonesia Roundabout in Central Jakarta.

The organizers have outlined five main groups of demands covering environmental protection, state spending, education, legal reform, and human rights and democracy.

On environmental issues, the protesters are calling on the government to declare forest and land fires a national disaster, hold corporations accountable for ecological damage and improve land management.

They are also demanding that the state budget prioritize public needs, education costs be reduced and access to basic services be expanded.

Other demands include efforts to eradicate corruption, collusion and nepotism, known locally as KKN, and stronger protection for freedom of expression.

The planned rally follows a demonstration by students and civil society groups in the Tugu Tani area of Central Jakarta on Oct. 20. BEM UI and Komite SADAR have also invited other groups to join Wednesday’s protest.

Pramono said residents should be able to exercise their democratic rights while ensuring that demonstrations do not compromise public order or prevent others from carrying out their daily activities.

He reiterated his hope that protesters would express their concerns responsibly while keeping Jakarta comfortable and accessible for all residents.

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