TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A riot broke out on Thursday afternoon in front of the North Sumatra Legislative Council (DPRD) between a pro-government group and one that opposed the Jokowi administration. The clash reportedly injured 13 people.
North Sumatra Police Chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Tatan Dirsan Atmaja said that both groups initially held their rally peacefully. The 13 injured people, consist of 5 police personnel and 8 protestors, were hit by the flying rocks.
“But then there were stones thrown, police personnel were still monitoring the situation until there was pushing and shoving which ended by us securing [the demonstrators],” said Tatan Dirsan when Tempo reached him last night, Sept. 20.
According to Tatan, police had to briefly secure the university students that were involved in the rally that ended in chaos. However, they were sent back home after police questioning.
Two groups that consist of pro-Jokowi government and ones that opposed the government staged rallies at the same time in front of the North Sumatra DPRD. The pro-Jokowi group was identified as the Masyarakat Cinta NKRI while the opposing group mostly consisted of college students.
A video of the aftermath showing a bloody-faced student lashing out his anger went viral on social media lately.
Candrika Radita Putri
