September 2, 2026 | 11:26 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A protest organized by the Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Student Alliance, which later joined the Civil Society Alliance, descended into clashes at the Gramedia intersection in Yogyakarta on Tuesday night, September 1, 2026.
The Yogyakarta Police said several protesters sustained minor injuries, while several police officers were also hit by a spray believed to contain pepper spray.
Tensions between protesters and a group of residents identifying themselves as Jaga Warga erupted after demonstrators blocked the road. The protest began at around 4 p.m. and continued until 10 p.m.
"There was a misunderstanding between the protesters and residents after the road was blocked, which led to a minor altercation. However, the situation was brought under control," Yogyakarta Police spokesperson Senior Commissioner Ihsan said Tuesday night.
According to Ihsan, the confrontation involved protesters and residents pushing each other, causing several student protesters to fall and sustain injuries after residents pushed them back toward the UGM roundabout.
"The injured protesters immediately received medical treatment and were evacuated independently in UGM ambulances to Panti Rapih Hospital. However, all of them were able to return home that same night," Ihsan said.
Ihsan also said several officers securing the area were hit by a spray believed to be pepper spray. The officers were treated immediately in police ambulances.
He said the police's main priority in securing the protest was to maintain a humane approach while protecting the public's right to express their views in public.
After the protesters were dispersed at around 10:15 p.m., the situation at the Gramedia intersection returned to normal. Traffic, which had been disrupted for more than five hours, resumed.
Police also deployed routine patrols at several strategic locations to maintain security across Yogyakarta.
"Given the late hour, we also urge our fellow students to return directly to their homes or boarding houses in an orderly manner," Ihsan said.
Road Blockade Escalates Into Clashes
Tempo observed that the protesters' road blockade, which began at around 4 p.m., had already triggered tensions and physical confrontations with groups of residents.
The first clash occurred at around 7 p.m., when residents and students briefly chased each other toward Jalan Cik Di Tiro in the direction of UGM.
Another clash broke out at around 9:45 p.m., when residents again pushed the students away from the Gramedia intersection toward the north.
"The root of the problem is no longer about technical issues or policy, but the leadership of today's regime, which is chaotic and far removed from the Constitution," UGM protester representative Mesa said before the demonstrators were pushed northward.
Another alliance representative from Yogyakarta's UPN University, Risyad, criticized the deployment of civilian groups to help secure the protest, saying it could trigger conflict between members of the public.
"We need to understand that responsibility for security and public order should be handled by the police. Deploying mass organizations that are close to the current regime is simply not appropriate," Risyad said.
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