TNI, Police Retiree Group Joins Student Protest in Jakarta

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Hundreds of people under the Forum of Indonesian Retired Fighters (FPPI) arrived at the Arjuna Wiwaha statue in downtown Central Jakarta at 10:45 WIB to join the mass demonstration held by the National Association of University Student Executive Bodies (BEM SI). 

The FPPI is a forum mainly accommodating police and military retirees from the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) and the National Police. 

According to the forum’s presidium chairperson, colonel (ret.)Sugeng Waras, they are prepared to guard the students during the demonstration. He claimed there are roughly 300 forum members who came from regions outside of the greater Jakarta area.

“Our objective here is to preserve Indonesia’s safety and security, as we heard that the students will be here today. FPPI’s goal is that. We do not pick and choose sides as we are the government but we are also the general public,” said Sugeng at the location near the National Monument (Monas) area on April 11. Demonstrators in the rally reject the notion of an extended presidential term.

Meanwhile, the location of the mass rally, which was initially planned to be at the Merdeka Palace, has now been shifted to the front of the House of Representatives (DPR) headquarters. The changed plan was announced in the Instagram account of the National Association of University Student Executive Bodies. 

BEM SI media coordinator Luthfi Yufrizal confirmed this change on Sunday, April 10, “Yes, we will be gathering at the DPR.”

Read: Four Demands Voiced by Students in Today's Rally 

HAMDAN CHOLIFUDIN ISMAIL