Arya News - When handling the nationwide anti-government protests in August, the police used a variant of tear gas grenade that contains explosive charges, which is banned in police crowd control in several countries.
JAKARTA – The National Police had been accused of using excessive force against protesters during nationwide rallies in late August, according to an investigation by human rights group Amnesty International on multiple cases of violence around the demonstrations.
The human rights group examined verified footage and witness statements about protests against economic inequalities and lavish allowances for lawmakers across the country from Aug. 25 to Sept. 1.
The demonstrations later escalated into nationwide unrest following the death of 21-year-old ojol (online motorcycle transportation) driver Affan Kurniawan, who was fatally struck by a police tactical vehicle in Jakarta on Aug. 28.
From the investigation, Amnesty accused police officers of committing acts described as “unnecessary and excessive force”, including firing tear gas at close range, beating protesters and arresting them without a clear legal basis. The crackdown resulted in 1,036 victims in 19 cities.
Amnesty also identified the tear gas grenade used during the August protests as GLI-F4, a variant of tear gas grenade that carries an explosive charge in addition to chemical irritants.
The use of the weapon may cause serious physical injury through its blast and debris. Amnesty has repeatedly urged a global ban on its use in civilian law enforcement. France banned the weapon in police crowd control in 2020.
“When people speak out against injustice, the government should listen, not silence them with batons, tear gas or any other forms of violence,” Amnesty International Indonesia executive director Usman Hamid said during a press briefing on Tuesday.
Beyond physical force, Amnesty alleged that the police carried out 4,194 arbitrary arrests. While most of the arrested people were later released, the police named 959 people suspects of alleged involvement in riots.
It was later revealed that hundreds of victims were denied access to legal counsel and the right to contact their families.
The denial of such rights showed the arrests amounted to procedural violence, according to the Legal Aid Institute for the Press (LBH Pers), a member of a civil society coalition assisting the suspects.
The police frequently use several provisions in the Criminal Code (KUHP) to “criminalize” protesters, such as Article 212 on violence against officers and Article 160 on incitement, said LBH Pers advocacy head Gema Gita Persada. She added investigators also use Article 28 of the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law on inciting hate.
“This is a new pattern,” Gema said at Tuesday’s briefing. “Those criminalized weren’t only people directly involved in the protests, but also those who shared related information including calls to join demonstrations.”
Among people charged with incitement include human rights group Lokataru Foundation director Delpedro Marhaen, who was accused of persuading people, including minors, to join the protests. Another suspect is private sector employee Laras Faizati, who was indicted last week for allegedly asking people online to burn down the National Police headquarters in South Jakarta.
Both cases are being tried at separate courts in Jakarta.
Responding to the report, House of Representatives Commission III member Muhammad Nasir Djamil of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) said the police, as a civilian institution, should practice democratic policing, which must “respect human rights principles, as well as civil and democratic values”.
He added that Commission III, which oversees the legal affairs, had formed a working committee tasked with evaluating legal enforcement bodies, including the police, on their conduct, duties, institutional posture and internal culture.
Lawmakers are also expected to start deliberating the revision of the 2002 National Police Law next year. The bill has been included in the 2025 National Legislation Program (Prolegnas) priority list.
National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko did not respond to The Jakarta Post’s request for comment on Tuesday.
Calls for police reform have been rising since after the August protests. In November, President Prabowo Subianto established a committee tasked with reforming the police. Members of the committee include National Police chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, several cabinet ministers and former police chiefs.
Observers have raised doubts about the committee’s contribution to bringing meaningful change to the country’s police force.