August 31, 2025 | 10:42 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Civil Society Coalition for International Human Rights Advocacy (HRWG) states that excessive police violence against protesters in Jakarta on August 28, 2025, has violated international law.
The coalition, consisting of 31 organizations, also asserts that police violence against the demonstrators undermines civil liberties. HRWG stated in a press release, 'Tolerance of repressive practices by the authorities not only violates international law and the constitution but also damages the space for civil liberties and erodes public trust in democratic institutions.'
HRWG argues that the police violence is contrary to Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which states, 'Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.'
Furthermore, HRWG mentioned that police violence also violates the recommendations of the UN Human Rights Committee (CCPR). The CCPR's recommendations in 2024 expressed deep concern about patterns of abuse, intimidation, surveillance, and the excessive use of force against peaceful demonstrators, students, academics, labor unions, and civil society members in Indonesia.
Prior to the demonstration on August 28, 2025, at the Parliament Building (Gedung MPR/DPR/DPD), it started with demonstrators from the labor community and was followed by students. The demonstration ended in chaos. The Lokataru Foundation recorded that the Jakarta Metropolitan Regional Police (Polda Metro Jaya) arrested around 600 people, counting until late at night.
The police brutality during yesterday's demonstration also resulted in the death of a motorcycle taxi driver named Affan Kurniawan. He was killed by a Mobile Brigade (Brimob) tactical vehicle on Thursday night, August 28, 2025, in the area of Rumah Susun Bendungan Hilir II, Central Jakarta.
Affan was taken to Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM) before taking his last breath.
Following Affan's death, seven Mobile Brigade personnel of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police are being questioned by the Professionalism and Security Division (Propam) of the Indonesian National Police (Polri).
These seven individuals are Police Chief Inspector Second Class (Aipda) M. Rohyani, Police Brigadier First Class (Briptu) Danang, Police Brigadier Second Class (Bripda) Mardin, Chief Brigadier (Bharaka) Yohanes David, Brigadier Police First Class (Bripka) Rohmat, Bharaka Jana Edi, and Police Commissioner (Kompol) Cosmas Kaju Gae.
Polri stated that they have been found to have violated the police's code of ethics. The Head of Propam Polri, Inspector General Abdul Karim, stated that this conclusion is based on the initial investigation conducted by their institution.
"We have agreed upon this result, and it is a comprehensive recommendation. We have also conveyed it to Kompolnas and the National Commission on Human Rights," Abdul Karim said at Polri Headquarters, South Jakarta, on Friday, August 29, 2025.
The Indonesian Police (Polri) will also carry out a special placement for these seven police officers. "Starting today, we will place them in the Professionalism and Security Division of Polri for 20 days, for the seven suspected violators," said Abdul Karim.
M. Raihan Muzzaki and Vedro Imanuel Girsang contributed to the writing of this article.
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