The National Police is facing increasing pressure from civil society groups over its alleged excessive use of force, which has left dozens injured and detained during recent protests against legislators’ interference in regional electoral law.
A rally outside the city hall and council building in Semarang, Central Java, escalated into violence on Monday as hundreds of students threw stones and tore down fences.
Police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters, leading to chaos. Videos on social media showed students seeking refuge in a nearby shopping mall, where passersby, including children, were also exposed to tear gas.
Amnesty International Indonesia reported that 33 victims of police violence had to be hospitalized in Semarang. At least another 32 people, including 22 students, were arrested.
In Makassar, South Sulawesi, reports of police brutality emerged on Monday following student protests at local universities. The Makassar Legal Aid Institute (LBH) said 32 people were injured as police dispersed demonstrations, while 32 others were detained by police, reportedly without immediate access to legal counsel.
The protests followed earlier demonstrations in major cities on August 22, including one outside the House of Representatives in Jakarta, where lawmakers were forced to abandon their controversial plan to circumvent Constitutional Court-ordered rules for nominating candidates for November’s regional elections.
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning.
Police surround a protester during a demonstration against the planned revision of the regional election law in front of the House of Representatives complex in Central Jakarta on August 22, 2024. (Antara/Muhammad Adimaja)
