A new wave of demonstrations is expected in Jakarta today, Friday, 29 August 2025, as students from the University of Indonesia (UI) and the All-Indonesia Student Executive Board (BEM SI) prepare to take to the streets.
The protests come a day after workers rallied outside the House of Representatives and are being held in response to the death of an online motorcycle taxi (ojol) driver who was run over by a police tactical vehicle.
A call to action circulated widely on social media platform X, under the banner “BEM UI 2025”, invited “all Indonesian people to support the ongoing struggle”. According to the post, the demonstration is set to begin at 1.00 p.m.
Western Indonesian Time, with the main gathering point at the Metro Jaya Regional Police Headquarters.
BEM SI, meanwhile, has confirmed that students will gather at FX Sudirman after Friday prayers before marching to the Jakarta Metropolitan Police Headquarters. “After Friday prayers, the gathering point is at FX Sudirman,” said Muzammil Ihsan, BEM SI’s Central Coordinator.
“From FX Sudirman, we’ll walk to PMJ,” he added.
The organisers say one of the main demands is an end to repressive actions by the authorities during public demonstrations. Muzammil indicated that they expect a significant number of participants.
Muhammad Ikram, Central Coordinator of BEM SI Kerakyatan, also condemned what he described as “brutal and inhumane” actions by security forces.
“We will take action in response to a situation that is completely unacceptable,” Ikram told Kompas.com on Friday. He confirmed that the demonstrations will be held in three potential locations: the Brimob Headquarters, the National Police Headquarters, and the Metro Jaya Regional Police Headquarters.
UI Student Executive Board chairman Atan Zayyid Sulthan has also stated that UI students will join the demonstration. The action is scheduled to begin at around 1.00 p.m., with students assembling first on campus before heading towards the police headquarters.
Funeral of Ojol Driver Draws Thousands
Lihat postingan ini di Instagram
The demonstrations follow the death of Affan Kurniawan, an ojol driver who was run over by a Brimob tactical vehicle during protests in Pejompongan, Central Jakarta, on Thursday evening.
Video footage shared on social media shows the vehicle ploughing through a crowd, hitting Affan as he tried to avoid the chaos. The tactical vehicle continued moving without stopping, sparking outrage among residents.
Affan was laid to rest at the Karet Bivak Public Cemetery in Central Jakarta on Friday morning, 29 August. The funeral drew thousands of ojol drivers who accompanied the body to its final resting place. Many were in tears as they mourned the loss of their colleague.
Several public figures attended the ceremony, including former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan and businessman Jusuf Hamka, popularly known as Babah Alun. Metro Jaya Police Chief Inspector General Asep Edi Suheri was also present to pay respects.
The atmosphere was heavy with grief, as friends, family, and fellow drivers struggled to come to terms with Affan’s sudden death. The large turnout underscored the depth of anger and frustration over the incident, which has become the catalyst for today’s student-led demonstrations.
