Andi Gani: May Day Clashes in Bandung Not by Workers, But Anarchist Group
Andi Gani Nena Wea, Chairman of the 2026 May Day Committee and President of the Indonesian Confederation of Trade Unions (KSPSI), stated that the riots during the May Day demonstration in Bandung were not carried out by workers, but by an anarchist group.
“I reiterate, the riots in Bandung were not carried out by worker groups. There was no worker action at that time. And it was carried out by a group called anarko,” Andi said at the Grand Mansion Hotel, Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Monday (4/5).
Andi urged the police to immediately take legal action against the rioters in Bandung.
“Therefore, we ask the police, particularly the West Java Police, to take firm and measured action in accordance with applicable law. Because the labour movement in West Java almost entirely moved to Jakarta,” he said.
Andi claimed that the International Labour Day celebration in Indonesia was the largest and most peaceful in the world compared to other countries.
He expressed pride in the discipline of Indonesian worker groups, which differs from worker groups in several European countries during the 2026 May Day celebrations.
“May Day 2026 was the biggest May Day in the world yesterday. Applause for the workers in Indonesia. Extraordinary. In some countries, Paris in Europe, there were riots. And Indonesia mobilised the largest mass, peaceful and truly extraordinary,” he said.
The unrest occurred in Bandung on Friday (1/5) night, coinciding with the 2026 International Labour Day commemoration.
West Java Police Chief Irjen Rudi Setiawan confirmed that the mass carrying out the demonstration leading to riots was not a worker mass.
He emphasised that the action to express aspirations was only carried out by students in the Jatinangor area, Sumedang, and around the West Java DPRD environment.
According to Rudi, the unrest that occurred in the Tamansari Street area, Bandung, did not originate from worker groups.
“It turned out that in the afternoon towards evening, around 150 unidentified masses were seen, with characteristics of wearing black clothes, covering their faces, of course covering their faces to avoid detection of identity and then carrying fuel,” said Rudi, quoted from detikJabar.