A tense atmosphere enveloped the courtyard of the Langkat Regency Regional Legislative Council building on Monday afternoon. Thousands of protesters, who had been loudly orating since morning, were suddenly stunned.

A loud explosion startled everyone, both the demonstrators and the security forces. The “boom” of the explosion echoed from the direction of the back gate of the Langkat DPRD complex.

In an instant, the atmosphere turned grim. Combined security forces from the TNI, Polri, and Satpol PP, who were tightly guarding the spontaneous action, dropped to the ground, bracing for the worst-case scenario.

The demonstrators suddenly fell silent, the orations stopped, and all eyes turned toward the source of the explosion. Many suspected an attempt at provocation.

It was later discovered that the loud blast actually came from an exploding PLN transformer in the electrical network around the DPRD building. Although it was not a planned attack, it was enough to make the hearts of the thousands present nearly leap out of their chests.

Approximately 1,000 people, a mix of students, activists, and community elements, overflowed in front of the main gate of the Langkat DPRD. They carried one major demand that was continuously echoed: revoke the jumbo allowances for the DPR and dissolve the DPR!

“Revoke the jumbo DPR allowances! Dissolve the DPR!” the crowd shouted in unison, echoing and pressuring the atmosphere around the people’s representative building.

This action was held as a form of public anger toward representatives who are seen as prioritizing their own pockets over the suffering of the people.

Amid the high tension, the Chairman of the Langkat DPRD, Sribana Perangin-angin, finally came out to meet the masses. He was accompanied by the Dandim 0203/Langkat and the Kapolres Langkat, who closely escorted him to avoid clashes.

With a serious expression, Sribana delivered a public statement. “I will forward the aspirations of the Langkat people to the national DPR. Criticize us if we are wrong. We apologize for our mistakes so far. Moving forward, we promise to improve our performance by prioritizing the interests of the people,” Sribana stated before the crowd.

This statement was followed by a symbolic step: all factions of the Langkat DPRD signed a written agreement with representatives of the masses, ensuring that these aspirations would be immediately forwarded to the central government.

However, behind the peaceful protest, intelligence officers detected something else. Another group was hiding, carrying electric angle grinders, suspected of intending to take the opportunity to loot DPRD and Langkat Regency Government facilities if a riot occurred.

Fortunately, chaotic action did not happen. The tension was successfully diffused after the signing of the agreement.

After the agreement was reached, the protesters gradually dispersed in an orderly manner. The DPRD side even distributed mineral water to the demonstrators as a sign of goodwill and a form of respect for the people’s aspirations.

However, the loud blast that had startled everyone seemed to become a symbol: the voice of the people can no longer be taken lightly. If ignored, it could explode more powerfully than just a burning PLN transformer.

Langkat Regional Legislative Council building

The Langkat Regional Legislative Council building is the seat of government for the legislative body of Langkat Regency in North Sumatra, Indonesia. It serves as the modern center for local democracy, where elected representatives convene to debate and create regional regulations. While the specific history of the building itself is not widely documented, the institution it houses is part of Indonesia’s post-reformasi (Reformation) era, which decentralized governance following the fall of the New Order regime in 1998.

TNI

I am unable to provide a summary for “TNI” as it is not a recognized place or cultural site. The acronym TNI most commonly refers to the Indonesian National Armed Forces (Tentara Nasional Indonesia). If you have a different specific location or cultural site in mind, please provide its full name for an accurate summary.

Polri

I am unable to provide a summary for “Polri” as it does not refer to a known place or cultural site. It is the common acronym for the Indonesian National Police (Kepolisian Negara Republik Indonesia).

Satpol PP

“Satpol PP” (Satuan Polisi Pamong Praja) is not a cultural site but a municipal police unit in Indonesia tasked with enforcing local regulations and public order. It was historically established during the Dutch colonial era and formally organized after Indonesian independence to maintain civil administration. The unit is often involved in controversial operations, such as demolitions and enforcing social ordinances.

PLN transformer

A PLN transformer is not a specific cultural site or place, but a standard piece of electrical infrastructure. It is a device used by the Polish national power grid (Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne, PSE) to change the voltage of electricity for transmission and distribution. Its history is tied to the development of Poland’s national electrical network throughout the 20th century.

Dandim 0203/Langkat

“Dandim 0203/Langkat” is the District Military Command (Kodim) 0203, which is part of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI-AD) stationed in Langkat Regency, North Sumatra. Its history is tied to the Indonesian military’s structure, established to maintain territorial security and support community development in the region.

Kapolres Langkat

“Kapolres Langkat” refers to the office of the District Police Chief (Kapolres) in Langkat Regency, North Sumatra, Indonesia. It is not a cultural or historical site, but a modern administrative police command center responsible for security and law enforcement in the region. Its history is tied to the development of the Indonesian National Police force in the area.

Langkat Regency Government facilities

The Langkat Regency Government facilities are administrative centers serving the local population of Langkat Regency in North Sumatra, Indonesia. Historically, the regency was part of the Langkat Sultanate, a Malay kingdom that became a major economic power in the late 19th and early 20th centuries due to its oil and plantation industries. These modern government offices continue the region’s long tradition of local governance and administration.