#StopPoliceBrutality!

Three days earlier, 25^th August 2025, hundreds of students and civilians were protesting in front of the DPR building after the recent report that lawmakers had received several upgrades on allowances, one of which regarding monthly housing allowance for 50 million rupiah ($3,000 per person), which makes 10 times the minimum wage in Jakarta, while a period of massive layoffs for more than 80,000 labours, influx of more than 100% to property tax, as well as budget cuts for education and universities occurred in the same timeline. The Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS) documented that the demonstration ended with 12 injured civilians and 351 arbitrarily detained – of whom 196 were minors – and the use of water cannon as well as expired tear gas which indiscriminately affected residential areas.

The state apparatus’ responses to the 28^th and 29^th August protest raised deeper grave concerns. KontraS documented a series of excessive use of force practices from the Indonesian National Police (Polri) which include acts of live bullet shootings, torture, assaults, arbitrary arrests, forced dispersals, and the uncontrolled use of crowd-control weapons. Hence, resulting in more or less 113 severely injured civilians, 3 deaths, and 734 arrests. These figures illustrate an alarming pattern of systematic violence against civilians exercising their constitutional rights.

One of the most tragic incidents occurred in Jakarta on 28 August 2025, when Affan Kurniawan, a young online ride-hailing driver and sole breadwinner for his family, was killed after being run over by a tactical vehicle of the Mobile Brigade (Brimob) during the protest. His death not only represents an arbitrary deprivation of life in violation of Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), but also illustrates the disproportionate and indiscriminate use of force by Indonesian security forces against civilians. The killing of Affan underscores how state violence directly targets ordinary citizens whose only “crime” was exercising their right to be present in a public protest space.

The use of excessive force, arbitrary arrests, and acts amounting to torture not only contravene Indonesia’s obligations under international human rights law including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention against Torture (CAT), but also directly violate Indonesia’s own national legal framework. In particular, Indonesian Regulation of the National Police Chief (Perkap) No. 1 of 2009 on the Use of Force and Perkap No. 16 of 2006 on Crowd Control explicitly require law enforcement officers to adhere to the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality, and accountability. The current practices reveal systemic breaches of these standards, undermining the rule of law and eroding public trust in state institutions.

For the worse, former Chief of State Intelligence Agency A.M Hendropriyono narrates that an actor outside Indonesia orchestrated the demonstration. It has been a stigmatization pattern that one of the main narratives set up by the state apparatus is CSOs’ involvement with international entities and how the organizations are perceived as the henchmen of foreign or western entities (antek asing).

The mentioned incidents are not isolated. Instead, they reflect a recurring pattern of police violence against peaceful assemblies in Indonesia, from past protests such as the Reformasi Dikorupsi in 2019, Omnibus Law in 2020, Peringatan Darurat in 2024, to demonstrations against National Strategic Projects such as Rempang in 2023 and Papuan protests. Each cycle of repression, characterized by excessive force, mass arrests, and impunity further entrenches a culture of fear and silences legitimate dissent. Such systemic abuse represents not only a failure to uphold democratic principles but also a deliberate attempt to delegitimize civic movements that demand accountability and justice.

A disturbing and recurring practice within this systemic violence is the pattern of enforced disappearances where demonstrators, especially students and young activists, are forcibly taken by state agents without acknowledgment of their whereabouts for hours or even days, often without concrete legal justification or due process. This tactic instills and mirrors the legacy of enforced disappearances from the 1998 authoritarian regime.

The lack of Indonesia’s accession to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances (ICPPED) has created a legal vacuum, allowing such practices to persist with impunity. The state’s failure to ratify this international human rights standard eliminates critical safeguards to prevent recurrence, ensuring legal accountability, as well as protection from arbitrary state-led abductions.

Simultaneously, there are alarming efforts to suppress press freedom, also a form of mirroring from the past authoritarian regime. During the recent protests, the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPID) on 28^th August 2025 was documented to actively pressure media outlets to refrain from covering scenes of police brutality or other scenes from the protests as this state-led information blackout further impedes transparency. Thus, the state is combining forced disappearances with media censorship, replicating a dangerous 1998 pattern.

Thus, we civil society urge the Indonesian Government the following:

The National Police (Polri) is to immediately end the use of excessive force, ensure all crowd-control operations comply with Perkap No. 1 of 2009 and international human rights standards such as the UN Guidance of Less-Lethal Weapons and UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials, and impartially investigate officers responsible for abuses.
The National Police Commission (Kompolnas) is to exercise independent oversight by launching an urgent inquiry into police violence on 28^th August 2025 and recommend disciplinary and criminal sanctions.
Police Institutions (Polri and Kompolnas) and Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) must cease all practices of enforced disappearances as well as short-term enforced disappearances and ensure prompt release and protection of all arbitrarily detained civilians.
The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) to conduct a prompt, impartial, and transparent investigation into all cases of torture, arbitrary arrest, and extrajudicial killings related to recent protests, and provide protection for victims and witnesses. The Institution should also intensify monitoring to specific components in the incidents such as the excessive use of crowd-control weapons including tear gas, batons, and rubber bullets, to tactical vehicles particularly in the incident where a ride-hailing driver was run over by a Brimob tactical vehicle during the demonstration.
The Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) to ensure genuine legislative oversight by summoning the Chief of Police for public accountability hearings, demanding explanations for the unlawful repression, and guaranteeing that all future crowd-control operations strictly comply with national law and international standards. The DPR must also immediately expedite the deliberation and passage of laws safeguarding labor rights, social protection, and civic freedoms. As the very institution being protested by the people, the DPR cannot hide behind repression, it must face Indonesian civil society directly, listen to their grievances, and act responsibly to restore public trust. As the main actor being protested by civilians, the parliament should also directly face Indonesian civil society elements as the protest
The Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) must immediately ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances (ICPPED) and adopt necessary domestic legislation to prevent recurring practices of enforced disappearances, ensure timely and impartial investigations, and to hold all perpetrators accountable
The President of Indonesia publicly condemned police violence, guaranteed the protection of the right to peaceful assembly, and ensured Indonesia’s full compliance with its international human rights obligations, including the requirement that any trials related to the police violence during demonstrations be conducted in a transparent and open manner. The police should conduct evaluation in handling demonstrations by prioritizing a non-violent approach.

Sunday, 31 August 2025

Organizations

The Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), Indonesia
Indonesia Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), Indonesia
Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR)
Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA)
Public Association “Dignity”, Kazakhstan
IMPARSIAL, the Indonesian Human Rights Monitor, Indonesia
The Peoples Participation, Initiative and Partnership Strengthening Foundation (YAPPIKA), Indonesia
Indonesia Justice and Peace Foundation (YKPI), Indonesia
Indonesia Judicial Research Society (IJRS), Indonesia
BarengWarga, Indonesia
Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law
the Civil Society Coalition against Transnational Organized Crime /CATOC
Manushya Foundation (Laos/Thailand)
Colors Rainbow (Myanmar)
Peoples of Longing, Timor Leste
2030 Youth Force Indonesia (Yayasan 2030 Prapta Nusa), Indonesia
Asosiasaun Chega! Ba Ita (ACbit), Timor Leste
Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW), Indonesia
LBH APIK Jakarta
Kuala Lumpur Debate
Indonesia Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI)
Asian Cultural Forum on Development (ACFOD)
KOMPAKS (Anti Sexual Violence Civil Society Coalition)
Support Group and Resource Center on Sexuality Studies (SGRC) Indonesia
Women’s March Jakarta 2025 Committee
International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID)
Yayasan Tifa (Tifa Foundation)
Activate Rights ( Bangladesh)
WITNESS
kotakhitam Forum
PERIN+1S – C2O library & collaborative
PIKAT Demokrasi
Public Virtue Research Institute
Humanis
SINDIKASI (Serikat Pekerja Media & Industri Kreatif untuk Demokrasi) Jawa Timur
Suara Muda Kelas Pekerja Partai Buruh (SMKP)
Trend Asia (Indonesia)
Solidarity Collective TH (Thailand)
Progresip.id
Emancipate Indonesia
ILGA Asia
Perkumpulan Untuk Pemilu dan Demokrasi (Perludem), Indonesia
ASEAN SOGIE Caucus
Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI)
TAPOL (UK)
MilkTeaAlliance Calendar Team (Regional)
Asia Floor Wage Alliance (AFWA) Indonesia
Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), Malaysia
Partai Rakyat Pekerja (PRP), Indonesia
Lembaga Informasi Perburuhan Sedane (LIPS) Indonesia
Konfederasi Serikat Nasional (KSN), Indonesia
Konfederasi Pergerakan Rakyat Indonesia (KPRI), Indonesia
Transnational Palm Oil Labour Solidarity (TPOLS)
Human Rights Alert Manipur, India
Numun Fund
National Union of Workers in Hospital Support and Allied Services (NUWHSAS), Malaysia
Studio Batu
Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet)
Kelompok Jaya Bersama (KJB) Indonesia
Lingkaran Advokasi dan Riset (Link-AR Borneo)
Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP)
Social Justice Indonesia
Legal Dignity, Malaysia
Open Net (Korea)
Ruang Independen Community, Indonesia
Spring Revolution Security (Myanmar)
ICT Watch, Indonesia
Kolektif Bengkel Kabel Bandung, Indonesia
End Female Genital Cutting Singapore
Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network
Serikat Buruh Migran Indonesia/The Union of Indonesian Migrants Worker (SBMI)
Sigaw ng Kabataan Coalition (SKC) Philippines
Serve the People Association (SPA), Taiwan
Foundation for Media Alternatives (Philippines)
Human Rights Online Philippines (HRonlinePH)
Arus Pelangi (Indonesia)
ALTSEAN-Burma
Asia Feminist LBQ Network (AFLN)
Korean House for International Solidarity (South Korea)
International Peoples Assembly
Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM), Philippines
Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA)
FIAN Indonesia
Watch Indonesia! e.V
Bumi Setara
18+ Coalition (Koalisi 18+), Indonesia
Perempuan Mahardhika (Indonesia)
Serbuk Kalbar
Warisan Ingatan
New Bloom (Taiwan)
Cita Tanah Mahardika, Indonesia
Proklamasi Anak Indonesia
Advocacy Forum (Nepal)
Suriya Women’s Development Centre (Sri Lanka)
Asia Democracy Network (ADN)
Indorelawan, Indonesia
Kait Nusantara, Indonesia
Beyond Borders Malaysia
Movement for Alternatives and Solidarity in Southeast Asia
KontraS Aceh
Greater Equitable Measures (GEM)
Strength For Queer – Myanmar
A New Burma
Action Committee for Democracy Development (ACDD)
Association of Human Rights Defenders and Promoters (HRDP)
Athan – Freedom of Expression Activist Organization
Blood Money Campaign
Creative Home
Equality Myanmar (EQMM)
Generation Wave
Generations’ Solidarity Coalition of Nationalities- GSCN
Justice & Equality Focus
Kyae Lak Myae
Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma (ND-Burma)
Nyan Lynn Thit Analytical
New Step Women Empowerment Group/Network
Progressive Muslim Youth Association (PMYA)
Progressive Voice (PV)
Queers of Burma Alternative
Sitt Nyein Pann Foundation
Southern Initiatives
Women Advocacy Coalition – Myanmar (WAC-M)
Women’s League of Burma (WLB)
Yangon Medical Network
Volunteers in Myanmar
MyaYar Knowledge Tree
Kyauktada Strike Committee (KSC)
Defend Myanmar Democracy
ယိမ်းနွဲ့ပါး – Yain Nweh Par (Rainbow Win The Storm – RIS)
ASR-ASSOCIATION of SPRING RAINBOW
Yangon Deaf Group
Muslim Youth Network
Sisters2Sisters
In Defense of Human Rights and Dignity Movement (iDEFEND) – Philippines
ProyekDekolonial
Vuka! Coalition for Civic Action
Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) – Philippines
Saribuhay UP Diliman (Philippines)
Defence of Human Rights, Pakistan
Maldivian Democracy Network (MDN), Maldives
NGO: Environment and humanitarian actions for well-being
Salam for Democracy and Human Rights (SALAM DHR)
Association for Democracy in the Maldives (ADM), Maldives
Solidaritas Aktivis Aliansi Jurnalis Independen (AJI) Diaspora
Asia Citizen Future Association (ACFA)
Taiwan Association for Human Rights (TAHR)
SILAKA-CAMBODIA
Southeast Asian Human Rights and Peace Studies Network (SEAHRN)
Yayasan Keadilan Untuk Rakyat Marginal (Kurama Foundation)
Kapatiran sa Dalawang Gulong (KAGULONG), Philippines
Himpunan Advokasi Rakyat Malaysia (HARAM), Malaysia
Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH), Malaysia
Cross-Cultural Foundation (CrCF) Thailand
Jeunesse Innovante et Restauration du Bien-être (JERESTAURE BIEN ETRE)
North South Initiative, Malaysia
KontraS Tanah Papua
True Colors Coalition (Philippines)
Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc. (PMPI)
The Biodiversity Project, Sri Lanka
Mayday Multimedia, Philippines
Philippine Labor Movement Archive (PLMA)
Pusat KOMAS, Malaysia
MY World Mexico: Hub of Action for Sustainable Development, Mexico
Asia Monitor Resource Centre
Youth and young Journalist peace and Democracy cultural
Center Timor-Leste
Milk Tea Alliance Thailand
Families of Victims of Involuntary Disappearance (FIND), Philippines
Asia Democracy Network (ADN)
Indonesia untuk Kemanusiaan (IKa)
Bytes for All (B4A), Pakistan
Weaving Women’s Voices in Southeast Asia (WEAVE)
Beyond the Hijab, Singapore
ALIANSI GERAKAN REFORMA AGRARIA (AGRA), Indonesia
Odhikar, Bangladesh
Southeast Asia Public Lawyers Interest (SEAPIL), Southeast Asia Region
Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD), Philippines
Agham Youth UP Diliman (Philippines)
Global Citizen Society, Maldives
Kemban Kolektif, Malaysia
Women’s March, Malaysia
Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center), Malaysia
Initiative for International Dialogue (IID), Philippines
Kalyanamitra, Indonesia
BeWithYou Indonesia
Bright Future, Thailand
Fat Liberation London, UK
Vajpayee Research Foundation, India
Serikat Pekerja Angkutan Indonesia (SPAI)
Irish Council for Civil Liberties, Ireland
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
Labor Kommunity
Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS), Argentina
Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR)
EngageMedia Collective
Youth Initiative (YI), Nepal
Nepal Development Initiative (NEDI), Nepal
Defence of Human Rights Pakistan
Capital Punishment Justice Project, Australia
Psychological Responsiveness NGO, Mongolia
People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD), South Korea
Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK), Philippines
Sekolah Pemikiran Perempuan (SPP/ The School of Women’s Thought)
Ch.nrw.flinta
N.C.F.H.Collective (SEA)
QueerPunch (SEA)
Can Yalcinkaya, Australia
Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
Kenya Human Rights Commission, Kenya
Legal Resources Center, South Africa
Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network

Individual

Taufiq Hanafi, Indonesia
Safina Maulida, Indonesia
Shoeb Abdullah
Ganies Oktaviana, Indonesia
Achmad Assifa
Cyprianus Lilik Kridmantoro Putro
Mathurin K
Xun-ling Au
James
Choo Chon Kai
Vox
RESI- TIMOR LESTE
Saza Faradilla
Reihana Mohideen
Bima Arthayuda, Indonesia
Raffy Oktavian, Indonesia
Ni Putu Candra Dewi, Indonesia
Syahar Banu, Indonesia
Federico Fuentes, editor LINKS International Journal of Socialist Renewal, Australia.
Nurashikin Binte A Rahim, Singapore
Gloria Truly Estrelita, Indonesia
Mamik Sri Supatmi, Indonesia
Syahmi Zulfadhli Abdullah, Brunei
Bikash Basnet, Nepal
Eko Waluyo, Indonesian solidarity
Atmaezer Hariara Simanjuntak
Cho
Megan Steven, Malaysia
Bernard Vijayabalan, Singapore
Ja Fuentes, Philippines
Lea Pamungkas, Amsterdam
Adhiraaj AnandNATWA HINDINA Pierre
Reichele Corona, Philippines
Rahmat Muhamad, Medan, Sumatera Utara
Madalena Timor Leste
Thomas Rieger, Jerman
Charles Zander Deluna, Philippines
Betty Yolanda, Indonesia
Ellirie Aviles, Philippines
Peter Boyle, Australia
Etienne ZOUNDE
Jhay de Jesus, Philippines
Dulanjaya Mahagamage, Sri Lanka
Kasumi Ranasinghe Arachchige, Sri Lanka
Wildan Siregar, Indonesia
OTOLORIN Adandé Barthélémy
Cristiana Ximenes Belo, Timor-Leste
Prints para sa Bayan /for the People
Celia L. Sevilla, Philippines
Attitaya, Thailand
Fiza Awan, Thailand
Maya Kornelia Musa, Indonesia
Kanhaiya Kumar, India
Myriam Selhi, Canada
Lulu Keng, Taiwan
Erin McConnell, USA
Lisabona Rahman, Germany
Alejandra Rojas Giraldo, Colombia
Christine Holike, Germany
Semjidmaa Choijil, Mongolia
Ganga Bahadur Gautam, Nepal
Di Wu, Belgium