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Jakarta Police detain more than 300 protesters: Chief spokesman
After having previously denied that any protestors were arrested, Jakarta Police chief spokesman Sr. Comr. Ade Ary Syam Indradi confirmed the arrest of protestors.
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A man walks past burning toll road fences on Aug. 22, 2024, during a rally to protest the revision of the Regional Elections Law in front of the House of Representatives compound in Jakarta. The protest was part of Indonesia's emergency warning movement that went viral on social media after the House maneuvered to ignore the Constitutional Court's decision. ( JP/Muhammad Zaenuddin)
T
he Jakarta Police have arrested 301 protesters involved in a rally against the Regional Elections Law amendment outside the House of Representatives compound, which ended in chaos on Thursday.
Among those arrested were Lokataru director Delpedro Marhaen and Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH) legal assistant Iqbal Ramadhan.
The arrest of both activists was confirmed by Jakarta Police chief spokesman Sr. Comr. Ade Ary Syam Indradi on Friday, as reported by the detik.com news portal.
Ade did not reveal the charges for the arrests because the police are still investigating.
“Who did what, with what evidence, who are the witnesses in the action … are still being investigated in an objective, transparent and proportional manner. Nothing more, nothing less,” he said.
“In principle, the police’s actions were in line with its duty to maintain public security and order.”
Previously on Thursday, Ade denied that the police had arrested any protesters, as suggested by House member Adian Napitupulu who claimed that the police had detained 26 protesters.
Ade also said that the protest was well-managed and all disturbances were handled.
The Advocacy Team for Democracy, however, reported that the police had arrested 27 demonstrators, including seven children, without legal assistance.
"Of the 27, only six had received assistance by 3:33 a.m.," Gema Gita Persada from the advocacy team said on early Friday, as quoted by tempo.co.
Gema was kept from assisting the detainees at the Jakarta Police General Criminal Investigation Directorate, calling it a violation of their legal rights.
Meanwhile, two students from the University of Indonesia (UI) and Brawijaya University were treated for their injuries during the protest at Bhakti Mulia Hospital in Slipi, West Jakarta.
Verrel Uziel, the president of UI’s Student Executive Body (BEM), received 11 stitches on his arm after trying to climb over a barbed wire fence to cross onto the toll road.
Satria Naufal, the president of Brawijaya University’s BEM, suffered minor injuries to his abdomen.
"Our only option was to climb over the barbed wire fence. Despite being helped down by friends, some were still standing,” Satria said, as quoted by kompas.com on Friday.
“Verrel got 11 stitches from the tear while I have minor abdominal injuries, and my chest feels tight.”
