TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Around 500 students who are members of the student executive board of the University of Indonesia (BEM UI) are set to stage a protest at the Indonesian National Police (Polri) Headquarters in Jakarta this afternoon, Friday, February 27, 2026. The students are demanding immediate police reform.
According to Tempo's observation, UI students have started gathering at the campus' FISIP Square since 1:00 p.m. local time, wearing their signature university blazers.
Some of them are seen carrying protest attributes with banners containing messages such as "INDONESIA GELAP" (Dark Indonesia), "APARAT KEPARAT" (Despicable Apparatus), "POLISI PEMBULLY" (Police Officers Are Bullies), "REFORMASI POLRI" (Police Reform), and more.
Currently, at least 10 buses and a pickup truck with loudspeakers adorned with red and white banners reading "Suara Rakyat" (Voice of the People) have been parked at the square.
The chair of BEM UI, Yatalathof Ma'shum Imawan, said the protest stems from public and student concern regarding the perceived lack of improvement in the police force.
"This is evident from the numerous tragedies caused by the police. Therefore, here we are, driven by the concerns of the public and students to demand police reform," said the student familiarly known as Athof.
For today's protest, Athof claimed that 500 UI students will participate on 10 buses and two public minivans, and they have coordinated with other universities.
"Some (universities) have also confirmed their participation. But we can't reveal that at the moment," said Athof.
At the Indonesian National Police Headquarters, Athof stated that the protesters will present several demands, but the major and primary agenda is to call for police reform. "It can no longer be postponed, and it's not just rhetoric; it must be executed promptly, and the transparency must also be ensured," he added.
The protest today was triggered by the assault committed by a member of the police Mobile Brigade (Brimob Polri), Second Pol. Brig. Mesias Siahaya, against a student identified as Arianto Tawakal (14 years old), which resulted in his death.
The incident took place around Jl. Marren, Tual City, Maluku, on Thursday, February 19, 2026. Arianto was struck on the head with a police baton, causing him to lose control of his motorcycle and fall. Currently, Mesias has been dismissed by the National Police.
Read: 'Police Reform Is Fruitless': Maluku Student's Death Triggers Protest in Yogyakarta
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