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Police in hot water over excessive use of force in recent protests
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Police officers use tear gas to disperse protesters during a demonstration against a House of Representatives plan to revise the Regional Elections Law, in front of West Nusa Tenggara legislative council in Mataram on Aug. 23, 2024. (Antara/Ahmad Subaidi)
T
he National Police are facing mounting pressure from civil groups over their alleged use of excessive force that resulted in dozens being injured and detained in recent protests against lawmakers’ interference with regional election rules.
A rally in front of the city hall and the council building in Semarang, Central Java, on Monday escalated into violence as hundreds of students threw rocks and tore down fences.
Police fired tear gas and water cannon in an attempt to disperse protesters, resulting in chaos. Videos on social media showed students seeking refuge in a nearby mall, where bystanders, including children, were also affected by the tear gas.
Amnesty International Indonesia reported 33 victims of police violence requiring hospitalization in Semarang. At least another 32 people, including 22 students, were detained.
In Makassar, South Sulawesi, reports of police brutality emerged following student protests at local universities on Monday. Makassar Legal Aid Institute (LBH) said 32 people were injured when police dispersed demonstrations, while 32 others were detained by the police, allegedly without immediate access to legal representation.
These protests followed earlier demonstrations in major cities on Aug. 22, including one in front of the House of Representatives in Jakarta, where lawmakers were forced to call off their controversial plan to circumvent Constitutional Court-ordered candidate nomination rules for the November regional head elections.
