TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Video purportedly shows police brutality during Jakarta riot

The video shows what appears to be a group of antiriot police officers surrounding Al-Huda Mosque in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta. They are then seen dragging a shirtless man and repeatedly beating him with sticks. 

Ivany Atina Arbi (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Fri, May 24, 2019

Share This Article

Change Size

Video purportedly shows police brutality during Jakarta riot Indonesian anti-riot police take a position to disperse the mob during an overnight-violent demonstration near by the Elections Oversight Body (Bawaslu) in Jakarta on May 22, 2019. - Indonesian police fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators in downtown Jakarta early Wednesday after a rally opposed to President Joko Widodo's re-election, an AFP reporter said. (AFP/Bay Ismoyo)

A

video showing a group of police officers beating an unarmed man near Al-Huda Mosque in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, has been circulating online in recent days, fueling allegations that police have used excessive force in handling the protest against the result of the April 17 presidential election.  

The video was uploaded by supporters of losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto who have accused the police of brutality.

It shows what appears to be a group of antiriot police officers surrounding Al-Huda Mosque. They are then seen dragging a shirtless man and repeatedly beating him.

It is unclear when the footage was taken, but a Google Map search confirmed that the incident had taken place near Al-Huda Mosque on Jl. Kampung Bali in Tanah Abang. The landmark buildings and landscape of the site shown in the video match the images that show up on the digital map.

The Central Jakarta Police said they would investigate the video.

“Thank you for the information. We will check [the video],” Central Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Harry Kurniawan told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

A rally held by Prabowo’s supporters in Central Jakarta on Tuesday turned ugly after protesters tried to break through barricades and enter the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) office.

At least eight people were reportedly killed during ensuing riots. The police are still investigating the deaths but have reiterated that antiriot officers were not responsible as they did not carry live rounds, pointing instead to unknown parties who they believe are taking advantage of escalating tensions.

{

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.