September 3, 2025 | 07:13 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) recorded more than a thousand injuries due to police violence during the handling of the wave of protests throughout last week.
"At least 1,042 demonstrators were rushed to hospitals in Jakarta, Semarang, Yogyakarta, Bali, Bandung, Medan, Sorong, and Malang due to injuries caused by violence by the authorities," said YLBHI Chair Muhammad Isnur in a statement on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. "This figure does not include those tortured during arrests."
Isnur said the wave of demonstrations that spread and turned into riots has also claimed lives. An online motorcycle taxi driver named Affan Kurniawan was among those killed after being run over by a Brimob tactical vehicle on Thursday night, August 28, 2025. Affan was rushed to Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM) before dying.
The latest data shows at least 10 deaths in demonstrations in various cities. "The death toll has reached 10 as of September 1, 2025," said Isnur.
According to the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), the intensity of repression by the authorities is increasing. Police are not only arresting protesters but also residents who are active around the demonstration sites. The government is also suspected of restricting access to information, from banning mass media from covering the demonstrations to suspending TikTok's live streaming service. Before suspending TikTok's live streaming service, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs summoned the company's executives in Indonesia.
In addition, Isnur said, access to legal aid for demonstrators has also been blocked. In several cities, he said, public lawyers, such as the Legal Aid Institute (LBH), have been prevented from representing demonstrators arrested by the police. In Manado and Samarinda, LBH lawyers were even arrested and beaten by the authorities. "This is already a form of terror against the people," Isnur said.
Seeing this situation, YLBHI reminds the government to reflect on itself and not ignore the various demands of the people voiced through mass demonstrations. These include the rejection of various policies detrimental to the people and a demand for an evaluation of the failure of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) to carry out its functions.
National Police Claim to Act According to Procedure
The Head of the National Police Public Relations Division, Inspector General Sandi Nugroho, claimed that his staff acted professionally in responding to the recent security situation. This statement was in response to President Prabowo's order to National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo and the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) Commander to take a firm stance against anarchistic acts in several regions.
"We ensure that the handling is carried out with full responsibility," Sandi said in a written statement in Jakarta on Sunday, August 31, 2025.
Sandi explained that the National Police are implementing standard operating procedures in a disciplined manner. Their priority is to protect the public, personnel, command headquarters, dormitories, and vital objects.
Sandi stated that the National Police respect freedom of expression. He reminded all parties to maintain their voices within the law. "We respect the public's right to express their opinions, but their implementation must comply with legal provisions and not harm the public interest," he said.
Intan Setiawanty contributed to the writing of this article.
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