KPAI Asks Police to Send Home 171 Students Detained due to Omnibus Law Protest

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) asked Jakarta Metro Police to send home 171 students who were detained for joining the protest against the Omnibus Law on Job Creation on Tuesday, October 20, 2020. The KPAI said the minors could be released after being examined.

Jakarta Metro Police arrested 171 students who allegedly planned to commit riot during the demonstration staged by university students and workers on October 20, 2020.

“Arresting children should be deemed as the last resort, and returning them to their parents is the priority,” said KPAI commissioner for civil rights and child participation, Jasra Putra, on Wednesday, October 21.

Jasra also appealed to the police officers to immediately inform parents about the condition of their children so that they would not worry about their kids’ whereabouts.

“Parents who feel that their children are lost and have not returned home yet, and allegedly participate in the demonstration, can go to the police to seek information whether their children are secured during the rally in Jakarta,” Jasra added.

Yet another demonstration rejecting the Omnibus Law on October 20 was staged again on Tuesday, October 20, coinciding with the one year of Jokowi-Ma'ruf Amin’s governance.

The rally attended by thousands of students and workers ended peacefully, even though there were tires burned. Late in the afternoon, unidentified crowds began arriving and almost caused a riot. However, the police managed to disperse them.

Also Read: Police Identify Riot Initiators during Omnibus Law Protest

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH