JAKARTA, bhayaksa.net – The Senayan district ground to a sudden halt and grew tense on Thursday (8/27/2026) as a massive wave of public demonstrations swept through the capital. Thousands of protesters, consisting of students, civil society groups, and regional alliances, concurrently converged on the DPR/MPR RI Parliament Building. They arrived with one uncompromising demand: urging the House of Representatives (DPR) to immediately pass the Asset Forfeiture Bill targeting corrupt officials.
The protest, spearheaded by the Pati Unified Community Alliance (AMPB) alongside the People’s Assault Movement Alliance (GERAM) and the Depok Unified Community Alliance (AMDB), centered on a core legal enforcement agenda. In addition to demanding the financial freezing of corrupt figures through the Asset Forfeiture Bill, several groups on the ground also raised secondary concerns regarding the stability of basic food prices.
The situation on the ground grew volatile in the late afternoon. After a portion of the crowd dispersed peacefully, other factions—including university student elements—remained on-site well into the night, leading to standoffs with security forces. Protesters went as far as damaging sections of the main perimeter fence of the Parliament Complex while continuing to shout their demands.
In an effort to de-escalate the rising tensions, DPR Vice Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, accompanied by other house leaders, eventually came out to meet directly with representatives of the demonstrators inside the Senayan Parliament Complex. During the audience, the parliamentary leadership signed a handwritten written commitment confirming their readiness to step down from office.
“If this is not completed (by December 15, 2026), then we will resign from the DPR, no problem,” stated DPR Vice Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad during a direct address in front of the protest representatives on Thursday (8/27/2026).
Responding to the written commitment, AMPB Coordinator Supriyono, widely known as Mas Botok, immediately spoke from the command vehicle to announce the agreement to the demonstrators before guiding the crowd to disperse orderly. Nevertheless, he issued a stern warning and promised to return to Senayan if the agreement is breached.
“If it is not passed by December 15, we will drag them out,” Mas Botok asserted in an ultimatum delivered before thousands of protesters.
Meanwhile, the Jakarta Metropolitan Police deployed at least 18,000 joint personnel to secure vital locations across Jakarta. Situational traffic diversions around Jenderal Gatot Subroto Road remain in effect to mitigate severe gridlocks heading toward Slipi.
Reporter: Timothy
Editor:bhayaksa.net Team
