August 29, 2025 | 09:41 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Student Executive Body Alliance of Indonesia (BEM SI) is urging the public to take to the streets to protest the police force's brutality in dealing with the demonstration at the House of Representatives (DPR) building on Thursday, August 28, 2025. While dispersing the demonstrators, the Brimob tactical vehicle ran over an online motorcycle taxi (ojol) driver, resulting in a fatality.
In response, the BEM SI is calling on the public to join the protest. "Today we take to the streets not only to reject policies that harm the people, but also to reject the anarchic actions of the authorities," the alliance wrote in a post on the @bemsi.official social media account on Friday, August 29, 2025.
The alliance plans to stage a centralized action at the National Police Headquarters in South Jakarta at 13:00 WIB (Indonesian Western Time). In addition, campuses in other areas will also hold demonstrations in their respective regional police precincts.
In a poster with a red background, BEM SI writes, "Synchronous Action Call to Disband Human Rights Violating Institutions." They claim that the police force has deviated from its duty as the community's guardian. The police force is now considered an oppressor of the people.
BEM SI condemns the actions of the authorities using violence to push back the protesters. However, according to the alliance, protests are not threatening and are not illegal. "We just want to be heard, not silenced by tear gas and batons," they said.
The alliance emphasizes the urgency for the police force to return to its duty of maintaining public security. "Your duty is to protect, not to intimidate."
A similar call was made by the University of Indonesia's Student Executive Body (BEM UI). They encourage students and the public to protest at the South Jakarta Metro Police office today at 13:00 WIB. They have titled the action "Call for #RogueAuthorities" on social media.
"We urge the entire Indonesian community to unite and voice their aspirations, affirm their stance, and demand the police force to cease arbitrary actions," quoted from Instagram @bemui_official.
BEM UI wants to hold the police accountable for the death of the ojol driver, Affan Kurniawan. They condemn the police persecution of the protesters demanding justice. "An institution that should protect has turned into uniformed executioners, trampling the dignity of civilian citizens," they said.
BEM UI is concerned that more casualties will occur if this incident is allowed to pass without consequence. Therefore, according to BEM UI, the community's resistance must be shown so that justice can prevail. They want the police to return to their duties.
Previously, Affan Kurniawan's death began when the police dispersed the protesters at the Benhil II flats. According to one of the flat residents, Kevin, the police mobile brigade's tactical vehicle ran over the fallen ojol driver in the middle of the road.
"There was a motorcycle taxi driver who fell and was hit. But the vehicle did not stop and just moved forward until it ran over the victim," Kevin told Tempo on Thursday night, August 28, 2025.
The protest in front of the DPR building actually began on Thursday morning, August 28, 2025. Initially, the protesters were from the labor union. They presented six demands: the abolition of outsourcing, rejection of low wages, anti-layoff measures, labor tax reform, recognition of the Labor Omnibus Law, recognition of the asset confiscation bill, and revision of the Election Bill. However, they dispersed on Thursday afternoon.
After that, waves of students and uniformed school masses flocked to the DPR building. The students came from various campuses. They demanded the dissolution of the DPR and the cancellation of excessive parliamentary allowances.
Vedro Immanuel, Sultan Abdurrahman, and Alif Ilham Fajriadi contributed to this article
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