Barbed Wire Prevented From Getting Closer To The Palace, Students Cheer For The Police

Students in the Arjuna Wiwaha Horse Statue area/FOTO; Diah Ayu-VOI

JAKARTA - Students from BEM UI and a number of other universities have gathered in the Arjuna Wiwaha Horse Statue area to hold a demonstration.

They intend to go in front of the State Palace. However, the students who brought the commando car could not move because they were blocked by barbed wire and guarded by a line of police officers behind the wire.

On Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, in front of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, students urged the police to open barbed wire as access to the Palace.

"Please don't restrict our movement. We bring demands from the people, we are also part of the people," said one of the orators of the protest at the location, Thursday, April 21.

Hearing this, the police did not budge. The students also cheered the row of policemen who stood guard in front of them.

"In fact, like this, it is not a security measure but a restriction," the orator shouted to the cheers of the protestors.

Students will voice seven demands in today's action, namely:

1. Strict action against constitutional criminals and reject the discourse of extending the term of office of the president.2. Lower the price of basic needs and overcome economic inequality.3. Take firm action against all repressive actions against civil society with a strict and non-discriminatory mechanism.4. Realize scientific, free and democratic education.5. Pass the pro-people bill, reject the pro-oligarchy bill.6. Realize true agrarian reform.7. Complete all human rights violations.