We urge the president to pressure the Police Chief to evaluate the handling of demonstrations in JabodetabekJakarta (ANTARA) - The Civil Society Coalition has urged President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to order an evaluation to delve into the manner in which the police handle student demonstrations in Jakarta and the adjoining areas.
"We urge the President to pressure the Police Chief to evaluate the handling of demonstrations in Jabodetabek," Muhamad Isnur, the coalition's spokesman and chairman of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation's (YLBHI's) Advocacy Department, stated here on Friday.
Isnur claimed the police had committed violations in managing student demonstrations in front of the Parliament Building on September 24-25, 2019.
He cited the latest death of a youth identified as Akbar Alamsyah, who went missing after partaking in a university student demonstration in front of the Parliament Building on September 25 and was found by his family three days later in a hospital.
The Police affirmed that Akbar was found injured on early Sept 26, 2019, after falling from a fence while participating in the rally. However, Akbar's family did not believe the police's explanation since Akbar had suffered multiple bruises on his body and face, and his skull had cracked.
Isnur believes the cause of Akbar’s death remains dubious. Akbar was named a suspect and considered as a rioter by the police.
"Field findings by his family show that his kidney was damaged and his skull cracked. Those are not because of falling. If he fell, his neck would have been injured and not his head. Hence, information from the police, which is different from that of the family, has caused suspicion behind his death. What had happened?" he pointed out.
The Coalition has demanded to investigate and disclose the cause of Akbar's death. The Police must also evaluate each of its operations so far.
The police must disclose the case and impose sanction on the perpetrators rather than immediately denying any negative information of its personnel, he added.
"Do not just make denials too early. Do not create suspicion since the start. Akbar's family was keen to know why he was moved from one hospital to other hospitals. His family was not informed of his medical treatment. The family should have been informed about his condition," he pointed out.
Hence, the Civil Society Coalition has sought an evaluation of the police's handling of student demonstrations and that the process must involve other parties, such as the National Commission for Children and Ombudsman.
Earlier, two students, Imawan Randi, 21, and Muhammad Yusuf Kardawi, 19, of the Haluoleo University in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, died of gunshots during a demonstration in Kendari on Sept 27.
The police denied that its personnel used live bullets while securing the students’ demonstration. The deaths led to an outcry with Jokowi ordering an investigation.
A series of student demonstrations hit Indonesia's streets last September, as they protested a passage of a bill revising the Law on Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). The public believed the revised law would weaken the fight against corruption in the country.
The students plan to hold another huge demonstration if the government fails to abort the revised law.
Translator: Fathur Rohman, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
