Amnesty International Highlights Police Brutality Against Protesters

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Amnesty International Indonesia has highlighted the excessive use of force by security forces during protests against the revision of the Regional Election Law at the Parliament Building in Senayan, Jakarta, and other regions. The organization monitored the demonstrations that took place in multiple cities simultaneously on Thursday, August 22, 2024, and documented instances of police brutality.

“One word [for security forces]: brutality. The security that was initially conducive ended fatally,” said Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid in a written statement released on Thursday evening.

Usman criticized the security forces for violating the law and failing to respect the right to peaceful protest, which is protected both nationally and internationally. “The brutal behavior of officers is proof of their failure to realize that anyone has the right to protest through demonstrations. The right to sue, disagree, or oppose,” he remarked.

Amnesty documented numerous cases of police brutality as of Thursday afternoon. At least dozens of people have been arrested and experienced physical violence during the protest in Jakarta. They include staffers of the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute, the Director of the human rights group Lokataru, protesters, and journalists.

In Bandung, police were caught on video chasing and beating protesters with batons and stepping on them, while in Semarang, at least 15 students from various campuses were injured due to tear gas inhalation and were being treated at Roemani Hospital.

“They experienced symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea, sore eyes, and some even fainted,” he explained.

Usman emphasized that excessive force, including the use of batons, tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets, is unjustified unless there is a genuine threat to lives. Their usage must also be accounted for. “The state must investigate and prosecute all perpetrators. There must be no more victims.”

Usman also emphasized that such actions violate human rights, including the rights to assembly, peace, life, and freedom from torture. The organization called on Indonesian officials to abandon unnecessary violence and ensure accountability for those involved in such acts. 

“They are not criminals, but citizens who want to criticize officials and state institutions. Even if they break the law, they should not be treated with brutal actions,” he added.

Amnesty said that the apparatus could use force only to protect or save lives, either officers or the masses. When the masses tore down the DPR Building, according to Usman, no lives were threatened. “In the field, the violence carried out by the apparatus was completely unnecessary.”

Therefore, Usman hopes that the President and DPR will learn to respect the rights of citizens to be involved in policymaking so that they will refrain from staging a protest. 

“And they must learn to respect [citizens’ rights] to express their opinions, even if those are critical of the government," he said, adding that the brutality of security forces contradicts the stated commitment to professionalism and protection.

Amnesty International urged the Indonesian government to take steps to prevent future instances of police brutality and ensure that security forces adhere to international human rights standards.

ADIL AL HASAN

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