Jakarta. Thousands of university students staged demonstrations across Jakarta on Friday, criticizing President Prabowo Subianto’s government over rising living costs, public spending, and controversial state programs.

The protests were organized by the All-Indonesia Student Executive Body Alliance (BEM SI) alongside civil society groups, with separate gatherings taking place near the Higher Education Ministry, the National Monument (Monas), and Jakarta’s central business district around the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle.

Student groups from several universities in Greater Jakarta, including the University of Indonesia (UI), UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, IPB University, and UPN Veteran Jakarta, joined the demonstrations. Organizers estimated that around 3,000 protesters could take part.

The rallies revived public discussion on social media about the possibility of a “Second Reform,” referring to the mass protests that led to the fall of former president Suharto in 1998. However, UI Student Executive Board chairman Yatalathof Ma’shum Imawan said the movement was not intended to spark a new reform era, but rather to restore the original ideals of democratic reform that students believe have been undermined.

“We want to restore the spirit of reform and uphold people’s sovereignty first, not move toward a second reform movement,” Yatalathof said before the march.

In speeches delivered ahead of the demonstrations, students said Indonesia’s current economic and political conditions were deteriorating and accused the government of failing to deliver social justice and public welfare.

The protesters brought five key demands: reducing what they described as wasteful state spending, lowering food and fuel prices, halting the government’s Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program and the Merah Putih Village Cooperative initiative, ending militarization in civilian affairs, and urging the government to acknowledge policy failures.

Read More: Indonesia Tightens Oversight of MBG Program

Police Urge Protest Relocation
Jakarta police had earlier urged protesters to move the main rally away from the Hotel Indonesia roundabout, arguing that the area is a vital economic and traffic hub. Authorities suggested relocating the demonstration to the Horse Statue area near the Presidential Palace or outside the parliament complex.

Despite the request, large numbers of demonstrators gathered along Jalan Jenderal Sudirman, prompting police to divert traffic from the Semanggi interchange toward Gatot Subroto Avenue and the Kuningan business district.

Traffic congestion worsened throughout Friday afternoon as police installed road barriers and redirected vehicles away from the main protest route. Officers were deployed across central Jakarta to manage both security and traffic flow.

Authorities advised commuters to avoid the Sudirman-Thamrin corridor and use alternative routes, warning that public transportation services crossing central Jakarta could also face delays.

The demonstrations remained under police supervision through Friday evening, with traffic diversions still in place around the Hotel Indonesia roundabout and Sudirman area.