TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Members of the Indonesian Women's Alliance (API) broke through police barriers on Thursday, June 18, to continue their demonstration toward the Hotel Indonesia (HI) Roundabout in Central Jakarta after authorities blocked their planned protest route.
API representative Afifah said protesters had informed police in advance that they intended to march from Jalan Jenderal Sudirman to the HI Roundabout before continuing to the National Monument (Monas), the Arjuna Wijaya Monument—commonly known as the Horse Statue—and the State Palace.
"We had informed the police that we would march from Sudirman to the HI Roundabout, then to Monas, the Horse Statue, and the State Palace," Afifah told reporters near Jalan Sudirman.
According to Afifah, the demonstrators initially set out on a long march toward the State Palace. However, after covering about one kilometer, police redirected them through Jalan Kota Bumi and a series of narrow residential streets.
After emerging onto a main road near the Grand Indonesia intersection, the protesters encountered another police blockade. The demonstrators then insisted on proceeding toward the HI Roundabout, leading to a tense confrontation with officers.
"We had already passed through the small streets and were then instructed to turn left, which would have taken us away from the HI Roundabout. We refused and pushed forward to the right until we finally reached HI," Afifah said.
The rally brought together women from various groups, including Perempuan Mahardhika, domestic workers, and housewives. Protesters demanded that the government discontinue the Free Nutritious Meals Program (MBG), lower the prices of basic commodities, and create more employment opportunities as promised during election campaigns.
Afifah argued that the MBG program was driven more by political considerations than by efforts to improve children's nutrition.
"We know that the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), from its representatives to its leadership, is not composed of nutrition experts. They come from different professional backgrounds," she said.
She added that some mothers have concerns about the program's implementation and the nutritional standards of meals provided to students.
Afifah also cited reports of food poisoning incidents linked to school meal programs, saying such cases had further fueled public criticism of the initiative.
Read: Hundreds of Women Rally in Jakarta Today Against Free Meals Program
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