Various human rights groups reported that the police had used excessive force in dispersing the protests by firing water cannons and tear gas as well as launching violent attacks against unarmed participants, some of whom were underage students. 

A viral video which made rounds on social media shortly after the protests became violent on Thursday evening showing a protester being trampled and beaten with batons by some police officers when he was already on the ground. 

Someone reported to be an IDN Times journalist was also captured being intimidated by security officers to delete footage showing police brutality. A reporter with Tempo was also purportedly attacked while recording the police assault against protesters who were already lying limp on the ground.

Amnesty International Indonesia confirmed the police brutality as they were directly observing the protests spread across a number of cities, including Jakarta, Bandung in West Java, Semarang in Central Java and Makassar in South Sulawesi.

“Through the evening, many rally participants were arrested and treated in ways that does not reflect professional law enforcement,” Amnesty International Indonesia executive director Usman Hamid said in a statement, adding that police should have only used their power to protect and save lives.

Read also: Thousands rally in defense of democracy