National

Students Rally on Two Years of Prabowo-Gibran, Bring 5 Demands

Stateline MEDIA Newsroom•October 20, 2026•5 min read

The Komite Sadar student alliance rallies in Jakarta marking two years of Prabowo-Gibran with five demands. Labor groups skip as police prepare traffic plans.

Key Facts

What: A protest rally commemorating exactly two years of the administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka (inaugurated 20 October 2024). Note: this article is written as an event-day preview — the protest has not yet occurred at the time of publication.
Who: A student alliance joined under Komite Sadar (People's Sovereignty Rescue Committee), comprising students from Universitas Indonesia (UI), Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), Universitas Padjadjaran, Universitas Diponegoro, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), UPN Veteran Yogyakarta, Universitas Airlangga, and Universitas Brawijaya; some campuses are holding protests in their respective regions. The labor coalition KBPBI chose not to take to the streets, instead marking the day with community service.
When: Tuesday, 20 October 2026. According to the organizers, the series of events is scheduled to begin with a symbolic action in the Tugu Proklamasi area in the morning, followed by a mass demonstration in the Tugu Tani area from afternoon to evening.
Where: Two locations in Central Jakarta — Tugu Proklamasi (Menteng) and Tugu Tani (Jalan Raya Kebon Sirih).
Why (5 demands of Komite Sadar): (1) declare forest and land fires (karhutla) and floods as national disasters, restore the health of affected residents, prosecute the responsible corporations and revoke their permits; (2) improve economic policy governance and restore market confidence; (3) stop restrictions on freedom of speech; (4) eradicate corruption, collusion, and nepotism (KKN); (5) lower the costs of education, healthcare, and public services and ensure more equitable access.
How: The protest is planned to proceed peacefully under the right to express opinions (Law No. 9 of 1998). Ahead of the rally, Komite Sadar published a survey claimed to involve 560 respondents from Sumatra to Papua, claiming 78.8 percent assessed the government as having failed — notably, the methodology has not yet been publicly disclosed.

Five Demands of Komite Sadar

A student alliance organized under Komite Sadar (Save People's Sovereignty) is scheduled to hold a demonstration in Jakarta on Tuesday (10/20/2026), marking exactly two years of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka's administration. According to organizers cited by AFU.id, the itinerary begins with a symbolic demonstration around the Tugu Proklamasi area in the morning, followed by a mass rally at the Tugu Tani area from afternoon to evening.

During the demonstration, Komite Sadar is bringing five primary demands. First, urging the government to declare forest and land fires (karhutla) and flooding as national disasters, rehabilitate the health of affected citizens, prosecute corporations deemed responsible for the crises, and revoke their permits. Second, reforming economic policy governance and restoring market confidence. Third, ending restrictions on freedom of speech. Fourth, eradicating corruption, collusion, and nepotism (KKN). Fifth, lowering the cost of education, healthcare, and public services while ensuring more equitable access for the public.

Ahead of the rally, Komite Sadar also released survey results reportedly involving 560 respondents spanning Sumatra to Papua. According to the survey, 78.8 percent of respondents reportedly assessed the Prabowo-Gibran administration and its cabinet as failing to resolve key public issues. AFU.id noted that these figures have not yet been accompanied by an open publication of the methodology. The same survey indicated that environmental issues were the biggest concern among respondents—with 83.5 percent highlighting deforestation and forest fires, 71.1 percent pointing to high prices of basic necessities, and 70.6 percent citing corruption and abuse of power.

Who Joins, Who Skips

Komite Sadar consists of students from several higher education institutions, including Universitas Indonesia (UI), Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Padjadjaran University, Diponegoro University, Semarang State University, Gadjah Mada University (UGM), UPN Veteran Yogyakarta, Airlangga University, and Brawijaya University. Several campuses plan to stage rallies in their respective regions, while the Jakarta action will be centered at the two designated locations.

On the other hand, labor groups have taken a different stance. Andi Gani Nena Wea, President of the Confederation of All Indonesian Workers' Unions (KSPSI), stated that the Indonesian Labor Struggle Coalition (KBPBI) would not hold demonstrations on October 20. As reported by Kebaruan.com, Andi Gani, speaking in Nganjuk on Saturday (10/17/2026), considered the date too volatile, prompting his coalition to observe the day with community service instead. He also clarified the intent of earlier labor protests on September 25 and October 6, stating they were meant to voice aspirations rather than mount opposition against the President.

Authorities and educational institutions have also taken precautions. The West Java Education Agency issued a circular dated October 16, 2026, requesting students of senior high schools (SMA), vocational high schools (SMK), and special education schools (SLB)—both public and private—to steer clear of demonstrations, while the Chief of Banten Regional Police (Polda Banten) visited several schools to urge students not to take to the streets.

Assembly Points and Traffic Advisories

In Jakarta, crowds are expected to gather at two assembly points in Central Jakarta: the Tugu Tani area on Jalan Raya Kebon Sirih and Tugu Proklamasi in Menteng. The Traffic Directorate of the Jakarta Metro Regional Police (Ditlantas Polda Metro Jaya) has prepared traffic diversion plans to anticipate the impact of the events.

According to KabarKampus.com, thoroughfares potentially impacted by congestion include areas surrounding the State Palace, the National Monument (Monas), Jalan Sudirman-Thamrin, and the House of Representatives/People's Consultative Assembly (DPR/MPR RI) building. Traffic Director of Polda Metro Jaya Senior Commissioner (Kombes Pol) Firman Darmansyah urged the public to anticipate travel times and choose alternative routes if they have no urgent business around the demonstration sites. Traffic management measures will be implemented situationally based on field conditions, and residents are advised to follow officers' instructions.