College students from all around Indonesia are set to stage a mass protest in Jakarta today, prompting police to enact road closures and tighten security around the site.
The National Association of Student Executive Bodies (BEM-SI) says college students will rally outside the House of Parliament (DPR) building in Central Jakarta this morning.
The students have listed several demands for the protest, including their wish to see the government once and for all reject plans to delay the 2024 elections and a constitutional amendment that would allow President Joko Widodo to run for a third term.
BEM-SI initially planned to protest at the Presidential Palace, but have reportedly changed their minds after the president yesterday addressed the nation stressing that the next general elections will be held as scheduled on Feb. 14, 2024 and that he will not run for a third term.
It was the most assertive Jokowi has been on the matter, after previously tip-toeing around the issue amid concerns that the current administration — which is backed by a massive majority in DPR — is planning to extend their time in power.
The Jakarta Metro Police say traffic officers have been deployed to the principal roads surrounding the DPR complex, such as Gatot Subroto Road and Gelora Road, to enforce closures and to reroute vehicles away from the protest site.
Major roads around the Presidential Palace are also reportedly shut should the students carry out their original plan to stage their protest there.
