Jakarta — Ahead of the planned demonstration on August 28, 2025, concerns over potential anarchic behavior have come into focus. Security forces, parliament, and labor unions alike have emphasized their commitment to maintaining order so that public aspirations can be conveyed without unrest.
Chairman of the All-Indonesia Workers Union Confederation (KSPSI), Jumhur Hidayat, firmly stated that millions of its members will not be participating in the protest.
“Three million members of the KSPSI labor family across the country will not take part in the labor demonstration scheduled for Thursday, August 28, 2025,” said Jumhur.
He added that KSPSI, along with around 100 other federations and confederations, has prepared a formal list of demands to be presented through dialogue with the government, parliament, and employers. In his view, this route is more effective than mass demonstrations, which are vulnerable to infiltration by provocateurs.
Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker of the DPR, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, reiterated the legislature’s commitment to safeguarding freedom of expression.
“Demonstrating is part of citizens’ democratic rights,” he asserted.
However, he also stressed that such aspirations must be conveyed in accordance with legal procedures to ensure that the essence of the struggle isn’t lost through anarchic behavior. The DPR remains open to criticism and public input—provided they are delivered within the bounds of public order.
From a law enforcement perspective, Metro Jaya Police Public Relations Chief, Commissioner Ade Ary Syam Indradi, emphasized the importance of a service-oriented security approach.
“Feel free to express your opinions, but let’s do so in an orderly manner and according to the law,” he said.
He confirmed that the police have prepared preventive measures to anticipate the presence of groups aiming to incite chaos. According to him, past experiences show that public facilities—such as the DPR’s barricades or busway separators—are often targets of destruction.
Beyond the need for vigilance, the government has already responded to many of the core demands raised by labor groups. These include the construction of three million housing units, provision of Wage Subsidy Assistance (BSU), formation of the National Workers’ Welfare Council, creation of a Task Force for Mass Layoffs, support for the long-awaited passage of the Domestic Workers Protection Bill (RUU PPRT), and provision of free healthcare services.
These policies demonstrate that workers’ demands have already received concrete responses. Therefore, mass protests that carry the risk of turning violent are increasingly seen as irrelevant—and potentially harmful to the public.