Police Name 54 Suspects in Violence in Anti-Omnibus Law Protest

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Metro Police Chief Insp. Gen. Nana Sudjana stated 54 out of the 1,192 people arrested during the rally against the Job Creation Omnibus Law on Thursday, October 8, 2020, were named suspects.

According to him, they are named suspects for various anarchistic acts during the demonstration, which turned into chaos.

“During the anarchist rally, 1,192 people were arrested. Based on the results of the investigation, 54 have been named suspects,” said Nana during a press conference at Jakarta Metro Police HQ on Monday, October 12, 2020.

Nana added that the number could increase as the investigation was still ongoing. “Articles 212, 218, 170, and 406 of the Criminal Code can be applied to those suspects depending on their roles,” he said.

As widely reported, the Thursday mass protest ended in chaos. Several public facilities were destroyed including Transjakarta bus stops, traffic police posts, and the lobby of the ESDM Ministry Building. Many protesters and policemen were injured.

Nana mentioned that 64 percent of the people detained by the police were students. The police, he added, had allowed them to return home so long as they were picked up by their parents and wrote a statement. 

The police chief further appealed to parents, teachers, and education agencies to supervise their children and students. “Do not let them be provoked to join [a rally] and be used to commit anarchism and vandalism,” Nana underlined.

Read: Workers Protest Against Omnibus Law, Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat Closed

JULI HANTORO