September 18, 2025 | 04:48 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's West Java Regional Police have revealed the involvement of a group with anarchist leanings in the wave of demonstrations that erupted at the end of August, which escalated into riots and caused widespread damage.
West Java Police Chief Inspector General Rudi Setiawan confirmed that four individuals tied to the movement have been arrested. “They adhere to anarchist ideology, a belief that rejects government authority,” Rudi said in a written statement.
He explained that the group’s motivation stems from deep dissatisfaction with daily social conditions. “Their disappointment has continued to grow and harden over time,” Rudi noted. This frustration, he added, drew them to the doctrines promoted by anarchist ideology.
According to Rudi, the group has also attracted sympathizers from diverse backgrounds, including teenagers and students. Beyond that, they have reportedly established links with similar groups abroad, which have provided them with financial support.
“In essence, anarchist ideology is defined by opposition to the government and destructive tendencies,” Rudi said. “This is not my assumption but the result of investigations conducted in line with legal procedures.”
Even so, he emphasized that the group’s beliefs have not yet escalated to the level of violent extremism. “What drives them is more about disappointment, poverty, and the sense of injustice they experience, rather than a radical impulse to sacrifice lives,” he explained.
Earlier, police had named 26 suspects in connection with acts of vandalism and arson targeting government offices and public facilities.
Rudi said the perpetrators used Molotov cocktails, pipe bombs, propane bombs, firecrackers, stones, and other weapons during the unrest. The announcement was made in a press release on Wednesday, September 17, 2025.
Editor’s Choice: Indonesian Activist on Week-Long Hunger Strike Demanding Protesters' Release
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Bandung Hotels Record West Java's Highest Occupancy Despite Revenue Challenges
2 jam lalu
Occupancy rates at hotels in Bandung are recorded as the highest in West Java, averaging 50 percent. However, PHRI mentioned that revenue has decreased due to the MICE sector not yet fully recovering post-pandemic.
Palace to Name Members of Police Reform Team This Week
20 jam lalu
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is currently selecting members for the Police Reform Team.
Today's Top 3 News: France Braces for Mass Protests Tomorrow, What Are the Demands?
22 jam lalu
Here is the list of the top 3 news on Tempo English today.
Riot Breaks Out in Highland Papua, Injures 8 and Damages Homes
1 hari lalu
The riot started from a conflict between students at the Elelim Public High School (SMAN).
Indonesian Police Reform Commission Set to Evaluate Curriculum and Recruitment Process
1 hari lalu
President Prabowo Subianto will soon establish a National Police Reform Commission to conduct an in-depth study of the police.
Police Accused of Wrongfully Arresting Students in Magelang Riot
1 hari lalu
A school student, DRP, claims to have been a victim of mistaken arrest and assault by the police.
Bali Police Name 14 Suspects in August Riot
1 hari lalu
The police headquarters in several regions have become targets of vandalism following the recent riots in Jakarta at the end of August.
Prabowo Prepares Presidential Decree on Police Reform Commission
1 hari lalu
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is preparing a Presidential Decision regarding the formation of the Police Reform Commission.
Jakarta Police Probe All Lokataru Foundation Staff, Including Security Guard
2 hari lalu
Jakarta Metro Police questioned all Lokataru Foundation staff, including a security guard, for the director alleged incitement charges.
Jakarta Metro Police Form Special Team to Search for Three Missing Protesters
2 hari lalu
Director of General Crime Detective of Jakarta Metro Police, Commissioner Wira Satya Triputra, stated that the police have been monitoring the alleged disappearance of demonstrators.
