ICJR Criticize Police Handling of Anarchy Group in May Day Rally

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR) criticized the way police personnel handled members of the anarchy group identified as anarcho-syndicalism during Wednesday’s May Day rally in Bandung.

ICJR researcher Madina Rahmawati said that the violations include completely shaving the people’s hair and make them stay out in the sun as punishment.

“Which Criminal Law Procedures Code (KUHAP) that allows police to shave their hair and force them to stay in the sun? None” said Madina at the Foundation of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI) on Thursday, May 2.

During the May Day rally in Bandung on May 1, people dressing in all-black categorized by police as an anarcho-syndicalism group were involved in a clash with police after they allegedly vandalized public facilities in the vicinity of the location of the rally.

The Bandung police eventually detained around 619 people from the group, with 293 of them legally underage. They were brought to the police headquarters where they were shaved.

“Police must reveal the two pieces of evidence, not act with abuse,” said the ICJR researcher.

West Java Police spokesman Grand Commissioner Trunoyudo Wisnu Andika defends that police had strong reasons to shave the detainees' hair and partially strip the male members off their clothes, which is mainly for identification and to search for dangerous items.

IQBAL TAWAKAL LAZUARDI (CONTRIBUTOR)

Read: Police Map Out Anarcho-syndicalism Members after May Day Clash