Students Protest Police Violence at 74th Police Anniversary

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Muslim Students Movement (PMII) in Jakarta held a rally in front of the National Police’s (Polri) headquarters on Tuesday, June 30, demanding police to avert from violence and repressiveness against student demonstrators. The rally was also held as Polri was celebrating its 74th-anniversary commemoration. 

“We urge police to evaluate each and every one of its personnel. And avoid seeing victims of police repression on students, specifically PMII cadres,” said West Jakarta PMII chair, Muhammad Ulul Azmi, in a telephone interview with Tempo. 

During the rally, protestors chanted words highlighting the recent alleged police brutality at Pamengkasan, Madura, where PMII members were rallying against the operation of a gold mine that has operated illegally since 2013 which grew from 30 mines to 350 mines in 2020. 

The PMII members that were allegedly assaulted by a police member were Ahmad Rofiki, Yasin, and Khairul Umam, who sustained injuries to the head and chest. Protestors at the time accused police - who they say guarded the gold mines - and suspects the acts were also done by police members without uniforms. 

In commemorating the Police anniversary, PMII strongly hopes police will avert from violent and arrogant acts handling demonstrators.

Read: Watchdog: Police Subjected to Many Human Rights Violation Reports

IHSAN RELIUBUN | MARTHA WARTA