TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - National Police Spokesperson Insp. Gen. Setyo Wasisto commented on the recent attack against the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute Foundation (YLBHI) office.
Setyo said that civilians have no right to act as enforcers of the law. Setyo explained that a ban could only be enforced towards people who attempt to spread the communist ideology.
Read: Police Name Seven Suspects over YLBHI Attack
“We must watch this. They are not the police. No [civilian] is permitted to act as a law enforcer. [The protesters] are not allowed to conduct any form of disbandment against anyone," said Setyo at the National Police Headquarters on Tuesday, September 19.
Hundreds of protesters gathered outside of the YLBHI office in Central Jakarta on Sunday, September 17. The protesters assumed that the event was linked to the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).
Read: LBH Jakarta Building Attacked by Anti-Communist Protesters
Protesters kept on gathering outside the YLBHI headquarters until Monday morning, which ended up sparking a clash between them and police personnel tasked to guard the location. Police detained 22 people suspected to be involved in the clash that resulted in damages of public facilities and the YLBHI office headquarters.
ARKHELAUS W.
