Amidst Protests Demanding Police Reform in Semarang, Demonstrators Hold Prayer for Arianto Tawakal

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SEMARANG – The Semarang Raya Alliance (ASR) held a prayer vigil for Arianto Tawakal, a junior high school student who died at the hands of a Brimob officer, Bripda MS, in Tual, Maluku. The prayer was held during a protest in front of the Central Java Police Headquarters on Thursday evening, 26 February 2026.

Before holding the prayer for the late Arianto, the ASR demonstrators first held a candle-lighting ceremony and scattered flowers on a banner containing criticism and calls for police reform. The banners read, among other things, “Prosecute the Police,” “Reform the Police,” “Justice for Arianto.T,” and “Repression is Not the Solution: Complete Police Reform.”

“We held the prayer to send prayers and also as a form of condolence for the death of our brother who was killed in Maluku. This is also a form of our solidarity,” said the Chairman of the Student Executive Board (BEM) of the Semarang State Polytechnic (Polines), Kevin Kurnia Priambodo, when interviewed.

The ASR action in front of the Central Java Police Headquarters was joined by hundreds of students from around 15 universities in Semarang and surrounding areas. In addition to demanding police reform, they also condemned the continued violence by police officers against civilians.

According to Kevin, the murder of Arianto Tawakal in Maluku must have hurt the feelings of many Indonesian citizens. “I think all our friends from all over Indonesia are angry, all are upset, all are worried,” he said.