May 22 Riot Attributable to Political Elites' Remark: Activists

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A number of non-governmental organizations (NGO) stated that May 22 riot was attributable to many remarks previously issued by political elites.

“[Their remarks] heat up and accelerate violent acts,” said Kontras coordinator, Yati Andriyani, in a written statement, Thursday, May 23.

NGOs released the statement are the Missing Persons and Victims of Violence Commission (Kontras), Lokataru, and Legal Aid Institute (LBH). They accused both the government and the opposition party of causing the unrest.

According to Yati, the people either from Jakarta or outside the capital responded to elites’ remarks quickly. “This is viewed from the anti-police sentiment that increasingly heated up in the field.”

Yati said comments triggering the bad situation had been delivered since May 21 because it did not show the maturity in politics. “Remarks from both teams continuously worsen the situation since before and after the election result announced by KPU (Election Commission).”

The rally on Tuesday, May 21 before the Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu) headquarters turned into a riot on early Wednesday, May 22 until the late hours. Based on Kontras’ observation, the two-day clash between the police and rioters occurred in Petamburan, Slipi, K.S. Tubun, Sabang, and Wahid Hasyim.

At least 300 people sustained injuries, 10 severely injured, and five people died (while Jakarta administration data recorded six). Yati explained the five lost their lives due to gunshot wounds in the chest and neck.

The mass, she added, came from various regions, such as Tangerang, Bekasi, Bangka, Bogor, and Depok, and the majority of them were in the age of teenagers.

Yati then asked political elites from both teams to stop their statements and policies that possibly escalate violence and actively participate in cooling down the current worrying situation.

IRSYAN HASYIM