Jakarta. University of Indonesia (UI) student activists plan to stage a protest at Jakarta’s Hotel Indonesia Roundabout on Tuesday, a day after Indonesia marked its 81st Independence Day.

The protest, organized under the theme #MerebutKemerdekaan (“Reclaiming Independence”), is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Participants will gather at the UI campus from 10 a.m. before heading to central Jakarta.

The student alliance says Indonesians remain economically and politically unfree and accuses President Prabowo Subianto’s administration of concentrating power.

Their demands include lower prices for basic goods and fuel, stronger action against corruption, agrarian reform, restoration of regional autonomy and an end to military and police intervention in civilian affairs.

Students are also calling for a review of national strategic projects and an end to the government's Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program and Merah Putih village cooperatives.

Police and military personnel were deployed around the protest site ahead of the demonstration, with about 10 Mobile Brigade police vehicles seen near the Tosari TransJakarta stop. Traffic remained relatively smooth Tuesday morning.

The Jakarta government has also implemented work-from-home arrangements for civil servants and remote learning for schools on Tuesday following central government instructions, coinciding with the planned protest.

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