Medan –

Protesters blocked the intersection between Balai Kota Road and Kapten Maulana Lubis Road, right next to Merdeka Field in Medan. The crowd was seen burning tires in the middle of the road.

On Monday, the crowd was seen closing Kapten Maulana Lubis Road around 4:00 PM local time. The blockade occurred after the protesters had circled Merdeka Field.

Upon arriving at Balai Kota Road, they stopped in the middle of the street. They observed a moment of silence before taking turns giving speeches.

Then the crowd moved toward the intersection at Balai Kota Road. The protesters persisted even as rain poured down on Medan.

The crowd was seen burning tires on Kapten Maulana Lubis Road. They then proceeded to reiterate their demands.

It was previously reported that hundreds of protesters, united under the Accumulation of Anger of Laborers and the People of North Sumatra (Akbar Sumut), held another demonstration on Balai Kota Road in Medan. They were seen presenting a number of demands during this action.

The crowd gathered precisely at the zero-point intersection in Medan. They were seen holding numerous banners and posters expressing their grievances.

“The state has failed to guarantee the welfare and safety of the people,” read one of the banners held by the protesters.

They were seen taking turns delivering speeches. After that, they circled Merdeka Field.

Traffic flow on Balai Kota Road was disrupted. Vehicles were seen moving slowly near the protest crowd.

Furthermore, they presented demands such as dissolving the Regional House of Representatives and political parties, evaluating and reforming the Police, and thoroughly investigating the case of a ride-hailing driver hit by a tactical vehicle of the Mobile Brigade Corps in Jakarta. This included asking the police to stop brutal actions against demonstrators and release those who have been detained.

The protesters also rejected low wages for workers and demanded welfare guarantees for laborers. They also rejected the multifunction role of the Indonesian National Armed Forces and demanded the repeal of the TNI Law Number 2 of 2025.

“Our common enemy is not our fellow people; our enemy is the government itself, which has stirred anger causing turmoil in various regions. Our enemy is those who seize the people’s land, those who do not protect the working class, those who kill children with weapons, those who collect taxes only to be corrupted for lavish living, those who let us remain poor,” said one of the protesters.

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Balai Kota Road

Balai Kota Road is a historic thoroughfare in Jakarta, Indonesia, named after the city’s old town hall (Balai Kota). It is located in the Kota Tua (Old Town) area, which was the administrative heart of the city during the Dutch colonial era. The road and its surrounding architecture reflect the area’s significance as a center of commerce and governance dating back to the 17th century.

Kapten Maulana Lubis Road

Kapten Maulana Lubis Road is a major thoroughfare in the city of Medan, Indonesia. It is named in honor of Captain Maulana Lubis, a national hero who fought during the Indonesian National Revolution against Dutch colonial rule. Today, it is a bustling commercial and transportation hub in the city center.

Merdeka Field

Merdeka Field (Padang Merdeka) is a historic public square in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, best known as the site where the Malayan flag was first raised at midnight on August 31, 1957, marking the nation’s independence from British rule. Originally a cricket field during the colonial era, it remains a powerful national symbol and a venue for significant parades and celebrations.

Regional House of Representatives

The Regional House of Representatives is a legislative body that governs a specific subnational region, such as a state or province. Its history is tied to the development of regional governance, often established to give local populations a voice in lawmaking and administrative oversight. These institutions are a common feature in federal and decentralized countries worldwide.

Mobile Brigade Corps

The Mobile Brigade Corps (Brimob) is the special operations and paramilitary police unit of the Indonesian National Police, established by the Dutch colonial administration in 1945. It has a long history of handling high-risk domestic security operations, including counter-terrorism, riot control, and natural disaster response.

Indonesian National Armed Forces

The Indonesian National Armed Forces (Tentara Nasional Indonesia, or TNI) was formally established in 1945 during the Indonesian National Revolution to secure the country’s newfound independence from Dutch colonial rule. It has since played a central and often controversial role in the nation’s political and social affairs, evolving into a modern military force with army, navy, and air force branches.

TNI Law Number 2 of 2025

I apologize, but “TNI Law Number 2 of 2025” does not refer to a place or cultural site. It appears to reference a specific Indonesian military law (TNI stands for Tentara Nasional Indonesia, or Indonesian National Armed Forces). As this is proposed legislation rather than a physical or cultural location, and since the year 2025 refers to future legislation, I cannot provide a historical summary of it as a cultural site.