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Calls raised for investigation into alleged police violence in May 22 riots
A street protest held by supporters of losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto to oppose the reelection of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo erupted into full-fledged riots that gripped the capital for days.
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Clearing the air: Suspected rioter Andri Bibir (left) speaks to journalists alongside National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo during a public expose in Jakarta on Saturday. (The Jakarta Post/Dhoni Setiawan)
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awyers and activists are urging oversight bodies to investigate allegations of excessive use of force by National Police personnel in handling riots that occurred in Jakarta on May 21-22.
A street protest held by supporters of losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto to oppose the reelection of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo erupted into full-fledged riots that gripped the capital for days.
Dozens of rioters have been detained for allegedly instigating the violence, but activists are claiming that police were seen hitting the suspects during a televised broadcast.
“Police are authorized to keep civilians secure. Therefore, they should maintain the presumption of innocence and not use excessive force,” Indonesian Legal Foundation (YLBHI) chairwoman Asfinawati said on Sunday.
A video showing an unarmed man being repeatedly beaten with sticks by antiriot police officers in a parking lot near Al Huda Mosque in Kampung Bali, Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta went viral last week.
The National Police confirmed the incident had taken place. National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo said the man being beaten was Andri Bibir, who allegedly supplied rocks to rioters who threw them at police officers during a riot in front of the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) headquarters in Central Jakarta on Wednesday.
Andri and nine other individuals were later arrested. Speaking to the press, Andri conceded that he was the man in the video but denied allegations that he was involved in the riot.
