Amnesty Indonesia Angered by Death of Kendari Student

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Amnesty International Indonesia has called for Indonesian authorities to capture and arrest the suspect who shot a college student to death in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, during the students’ protest.

Amnesty Indonesia Director Usman Hamid demanded police to take this issue to court justice as he deemed police’s tactics do not guarantee the safety of protesters. He also pushed the police to immediately name the facts about the shooting of an innocent protester.

“Authorities should swiftly name the facts of the fatal shooting through an immediate investigation that is thorough, independent, and impartial,” said Usman in his official written statement on Thursday, September 26.

The protest in Kendari follows the string of protests sparked nearly across the nation. This massive students’ protest is against a number of problematic draft bills produced by the House of Representatives (DPR).

Unfortunately, this rally proved to be the last time for Randi, a Halu Oleo University student, who was fatally shot on his right chest during the protest.

Usman Hamid asserts that a plethora of evidence shows the police lack the persuasive ability and avert to beating the student protesters. He also said that police had overreacted in the students' protest on September 23.

Even though facts regarding the death of Randi have yet arisen, Usman maintained that police should practice preventive action rather than brute force. “The priority for authorities is to prevent deaths and make sure they protect the human rights of the protesters,” said the Amnesty Indonesia Director.

DIAS PRASONGKO