Komnas HAM Urges Police to Prioritize Humane Approaches Against Protesters

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Chairperson of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) Atnike Nova Sigiro highlighted the violence perpetuated by authorities at protests in various Indonesian regions. 

Many videos circulated on social media about police brutality during the protest in Semarang since Monday evening. “Police fired tear gas, arrested protesters, and allegedly conducted sweeping into mall areas,” Nike said in a written statement on Monday. 

The Komnas HAM Chair warned that excessive force against protesters could potentially violate human rights, especially the right to peaceful assembly. "And (violating) the right to freedom of opinion and expression protected by the Constitution and the Human Rights Law," said Atnike.

Hence, Komnas HAM called for four things. First, the human rights agency urged law enforcement officers to avoid using violence to maintain security. Atnike emphasized that the authorities should prioritize a more humane and measured approach to handling demonstrations.

Second, Komnas HAM urged the Central Java Police Chief and the South Sulawesi Police Chief to evaluate the alleged use of violence by the police in handling and dispersing the demonstrators. Third, Komnas HAM urged law enforcement officers to provide the right to access legal assistance for arrested protesters.

"Preventing citizens to gain access to legal assistance could breach human rights, namely the right to justice," said Atnike.

Finally, Komnas HAM encouraged all parties to exercise their basic rights to assemble and express their opinions responsibly. In addition, she also asked to maintain a conducive situation during protests to sustain the nation's democratic space.

The protest against President Joko Widodo in front of Semarang City Hall on Monday ended in chaos after the police dispersed the crowd at around 06:00 p.m. The police fired tear gas and water cannons which made the crowd run towards the basement of Polux Mall Paragon. 

Several students became victims of police repression. Some suffocated and fainted. They were treated at the mall’s lobby while ambulances came to evacuate the victims.

The police said they had taken a persuasive approach to disperse the protesters. “However, the protesters ignored our persuasive approaches. The commander then decided to disperse the crowd using water cannons,” said the Head of Public Relations of the Central Java Police, Senior Commissioner Artanto.

ANNISA FEBIOLA | JAMAL ABDUN NASHR

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