Police Nab 94 Involved in Clash at DPR; Students Protest

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Metro Police Chief Insp. Gen. Eddy Pramono said the police have arrested 94 people allegedly involved in a clash between students and police at the DPR on Tuesday, September 24. According to him, one of them brought a molotov cocktail to attack security officers.

Gatot explained the investigation on arrested people is still afoot. “We will sort their whereabouts, whether they are students, common people, or other parties,” said Gatot during a press conference in his office, Wednesday, September 25.

He added that those people were suspected to have attacked police personnel and destroyed several facilities. If the suspicion is proven, the police will prosecute them.

“[They destructed] people’s vehicles, Military and police vehicles, and DPR building gates,” Gatot said.

Gatot went on, the arrested people have been brought to several offices of Jakarta Police. A student who carried an explosive object is still undergoing examination in West Jakarta Resort Police HQ.

West Jakarta Police Chief Sr. Comr. Hengki Haryadi previously declared that his side apprehended 17 people in the riot in Senayan. They allegedly destructed and set Slipi Traffic Police Post on fire. The evidence included Molotov cocktails, gears, stones, and firecrackers. “Those who have been secured are underage people on average,” said Gatot.

The students demonstrations at the DPR building against several problematic draft bills or RUU on Tuesday, September 24, ended in chaos. The mass pelted stones, wood logs, and firecrackers towards the police who fired tear gas and water cannons to protesters.

M YUSUF MANURUNG