Rumipos.com, Jakarta, Friday, 30/10/2026 — Students carrying a large red cross and performing Asr prayers confront police at Jakarta‘s Hotel Indonesia roundabout during a demonstration.
Students Carry Red Cross, Offer Prayers at Jakarta Demo
A demonstration by Indonesia Sadar took place at the Hotel Indonesia roundabout in Jakarta, featuring students with a towering red cross and participants offering Asr prayers amid tense exchanges with police.
The five‑meter red cross, carried by members of the Catholic Students Association (PMKRI), serves as a symbol of solidarity with Papuan indigenous peoples fighting to protect their land and forests.
The red cross references a documentary titled Pesta Babi that highlights deforestation and large‑scale development impacts in southern Papua, and the emblem has been used since around 2014 in indigenous territories.
Red on the cross represents suffering, sacrifice, and the hope that ancestral lands remain safeguarded for Papuan communities.
Red Cross as Symbol for Papuan Indigenous Struggle
The emblem is displayed in several customary land areas as a statement to protect forests from activities deemed harmful to the environment and local life.
Through the Jakarta demonstration, students aim to broaden attention to the challenges faced by Papuan indigenous peoples.
Prayer Continues Amid Police Tension
Even as police asked demonstrators not to proceed to the roundabout, a group of protesters continued their Asr prayers near the HI fountain, maintaining religious observance during the unrest.
“Kalian tidak bisa sampai ke Bundaran HI. Anda di sini kami fasilitasi,” said Reynold Hutagalung, Jakarta Central Police Chief, Friday, 30/10/2026.
The protest involved student groups such as the University of Indonesia Student Executive Board (BEM UI) and the Indonesian Catholic Students Association (PMKRI).
Through the Indonesia Sadar movement, the participants highlighted issues including environmental damage, state budget management, education, employment, law enforcement, and civil liberties.
The demonstration illustrated how diverse expressions—from symbolic red crosses to communal prayer—can convey public aspirations during a single event.