Muhammadiyah Urges Police to Apologize for Repressive Acts Against Volunteers

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Muhammadiyah Central Board urged the National Police to acknowledge their repressive measures and arrests of four of its volunteers who were on duty in the anti-Job Creation Omnibus Law mass protest in Jakarta, October 13, 2020.

“Muhammadiyah also asks the Indonesian Police to apologize for their repressive acts against four volunteers of the Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Center (MDMC),” said the central board in an official statement on Friday, October 30, 2020.

In addition, the police were expected to take action against officers who committed the violence. The organization’s legal and human rights council previously sent an objection letter, requesting legal proceedings related to this issue to the Police Chief on October 16, 2020. However, no official response from the police has been issued yet.

MDMC secretary Arif Nur Kholis said the alleged repressive actions took place around the Muhammadiyah’s headquarters on Jalan Menteng Raya, Central Jakarta. At that time, the volunteers were monitoring the area and anticipating protesters who needed medical treatment.

“Four MDMC volunteers who were donning uniforms were hit by a motorcycle by the police and were beaten. They were also dragged to the car while being beaten with sticks and kicked,” said Arif in a written statement on Wednesday, October 14, 2020.

Read: Muhammadiyah Slams Police Brutality Against Volunteer Medics 

DEWI NURITA