32 Protesters Detained During Unrest at DIY Regional Council Demonstration Released

YOGYAKARTA — Thirty-two protesters who were briefly detained during a demonstration outside the Yogyakarta Special Region (DIY) Regional House of Representatives building on Tuesday night (20 October 2026) have been released. They were allowed to leave at about 2.30am on Wednesday (21 October), after the demonstration, which had turned disorderly, calmed down.

DIY Police Public Relations Chief Senior Commissioner Ihsan said the group comprised 29 men and three women. They were all released from the grounds of the DIY Regional Council building in safe and healthy condition.

“We would like to provide the latest update from the scene: all 32 protesters, comprising 29 men and three women, who were detained in the DIY Regional Council area last night for everyone’s safety, have been released and returned home since early this morning, Wednesday (21 October), at around 2.30am,” Ihsan said in a statement.

Ihsan stressed that the police had used their discretion in detaining the protesters to protect their safety and prevent the unrest from escalating further. He also confirmed that none of them was taken to DIY Police Headquarters or Yogyakarta City Police Headquarters.

“None of the 32 protesters who were detained was taken to the provincial or city police headquarters. They were all held and released from the DIY Provincial Council in good health, and some were even accompanied home,” he said.