September 15, 2025 | 10:50 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Minister of Human Rights, Natalius Pigai, has proposed creating a designated space for demonstrations on the grounds of the Indonesian Parliament (DPR) building. He stated that one of the primary reasons for this is to alleviate traffic congestion caused by protestors blocking major roads.
He believes that citizens have the right to peaceful assembly and that the government must be receptive to their voices. "Providing a demonstration space on the DPR grounds is a strategic option that deserves serious consideration, as it will bring the people closer to the institution that represents them," Pigai said in a written statement on Sunday, September 14, 2025.
This "democracy space" would encourage a culture of direct dialogue. Pigai believes that institutional leaders and representatives should meet with the people directly to hear their concerns.
Pigai also stated that creating a designated protest area at the DPR could help eliminate the negative stigma associated with demonstrations, allowing them to be viewed as legitimate expressions of public opinion rather than disruptions.
With a dedicated democracy space, security measures could also be more measured and controlled, while logistical efficiency would improve through the use of permanent facilities.
Pigai emphasized that this proposal should not be seen as a way to restrict demonstrations solely to the Parliament complex. He clarified that the space would serve as an additional, official, safe, and symbolically representative venue.
Furthermore, he suggested that regional governments should also consider providing similar demonstration areas, such as on the spacious grounds of provincial or district/city DPRD offices.
"By doing so, Indonesia can avoid the trap of regulations that restrict freedom and instead expand the facilitation of democracy in the most substantive form," he concluded.
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