Jakarta Denies Claims CCTV at HI Roundabout Was Disabled During Student Protest

Jakarta Denies CCTV Disable at HI Roundabout During Student Protest

Jakarta Denies Claims CCTV at HI Roundabout - Jakarta has officially refuted claims that the CCTV systems at the Hotel Indonesia (HI) Roundabout were disabled during a recent student-led protest. The city’s government stated that the surveillance cameras remain fully operational, despite initial reports suggesting otherwise. The incident sparked confusion among protesters and observers, with some questioning the transparency of the city’s monitoring efforts during the demonstration.

Clarification from Government Spokesperson

The spokesperson for Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, Cyril Raoul Hakim, emphasized that all CCTV cameras in the HI Roundabout area are functioning properly. "We have ten CCTV cameras in the vicinity, and they are not non-functional," Hakim said on June 12, 2026. He clarified that any issues with the footage were due to technical challenges, such as bandwidth limitations, rather than deliberate shutdowns. "Even if the feed is slow, it’s because many people are trying to access the cameras simultaneously," he added, underscoring the distinction between equipment status and public access.

Hakim also noted that not all cameras in the area are under the city’s direct control. "There are other cameras operated by different entities, and we cannot confirm their status during the demonstration," he explained. This detail highlights the possibility that the footage in question might not have originated from the official Jakarta surveillance network, adding nuance to the debate over the event’s coverage.

Social Media Claims Fuel Public Discussion

Reports of the HI Roundabout CCTV being disabled gained momentum on social media, particularly on Threads. A user under the handle @corneliusvito claimed that "all CCTV cameras in Central Jakarta are non-functional, whereas the example of MT Haryono shows that its CCTV is functioning. Stay safe!" This statement ignited discussions, with some users questioning the reliability of the city’s surveillance systems during protests.

Tempo.CO, the news outlet, documented the protest and highlighted the participation of students from multiple universities. Demonstrators from the University of Indonesia, Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), and Pancasila University gathered at the HI Roundabout, while security forces established barriers to redirect them toward designated protest areas. The tension between the two groups became a focal point of the event, with the HI Roundabout serving as a key location for the unfolding scenes.

Police Defend Access Restrictions

The Jakarta Metropolitan Police’s Public Relations Head, Commissioner Budi Hermanto, justified the restriction of access to the HI Roundabout. "The location is not designated for expressing aspirations," he stated on June 12, 2026. Hermanto explained that the Directorate of Intelligence had coordinated with authorities to guide protests to alternative sites, such as the Horse Statue or the DPR/MPR building, to maintain order and prevent disruptions to economic activity.

While some students accepted the restrictions, others argued that the HI Roundabout had historically been a common gathering spot for protests. The demonstration, titled #Indonesiamenujubangkrut (Indonesia Toward Bankruptcy), was organized by a coalition of student groups, including the BEM representatives from the University of Indonesia, IPB, and Pancasila University. These groups presented demands aimed at addressing economic and political concerns, with the UI BEM chair, Yatalathof Ma'shum Imawan, outlining the protest’s key objectives.

Student Demands Reflect Broader Concerns

Imawan, the chair of the University of Indonesia’s BEM, detailed five central demands of the protest. The first called for an end to the misuse of state funds, followed by a push to reduce the prices of food and fuel. The third demand targeted the Free Nutritious Meal Program (MBG) and the Red-and-White Village Cooperative, which students believed were inefficient initiatives. The fourth focused on curbing militarism in civilian life, and the fifth urged Prabowo Subianto to acknowledge his role in economic challenges and cease evading accountability.

The protest’s emphasis on economic grievances resonated with many participants, who felt the government had not adequately addressed inflation and rising living costs. Despite the government’s assertion that the CCTV systems were operational, the event underscored the tension between public accountability and the management of protest spaces in Jakarta. The HI Roundabout, a symbol of the city’s urban identity, became a battleground for these competing interests.

Conclusion: Balancing Transparency and Control

As the debate over the HI Roundabout CCTV continues, the incident highlights the complex interplay between surveillance, public perception, and political discourse. Jakarta’s denial of the disablement claims has sparked further scrutiny, with critics arguing that the event demonstrated a lack of transparency in how the city manages its surveillance infrastructure. Meanwhile, officials maintain that the system’s functionality was not compromised, and that the issue lay in the coordination of protest spaces to ensure safety and order.