Brimob Urged to Withdraw from Communities Following the Bripda Mesias Siahaya Case; Police Response Proves Unexpected

Brimob Urged to Withdraw from Communities Following the Bripda Mesias Siahaya Case; Police Response Unexpected

• dok Polri

Jakarta, VIVA – Calls for the Korps Brigade Mobil (Brimob) to be withdrawn from communities have intensified. The proposal was voiced by YLBHI following a series of cases of violence that have drawn public attention.

In response, the Mabes Polri (National Police Headquarters) has finally spoken out. The Head of the Public Relations Division of the Polri, Police Inspector General Jhonny Edison Isir, affirmed that the Brimob’s history of service cannot be simply dismissed from the community.

“The historical record of the Brimob Polri’s presence and service within communities is extensive. From handling emergency responses to natural disasters, such as in North Sumatra, Aceh and West Sumatra, which are still ongoing,” said Jhonny, quoted on Wednesday, 25 February 2026.

He added that the Brimob’s presence is not solely in the context of law enforcement, but also in providing humanitarian services and securing social conflicts.

“Including providing services and protecting the safety of the community during the resolution of social conflicts. Similarly, strengthening and reinforcing the Brimob Polri’s support for regional units, especially Polres/Ta units, aims to ensure the protection, security and safety of the community,” he said.

However, the Polri stated that it is not turning a deaf ear to criticism.

“The Polri thanks and appreciates every constructive input and criticism from every element of society. These are taken into consideration by the Polri as a civilian institution that is open in this era of democracy – civilian supremacy with the values of human rights, the rule of law and the principles of transparency and accountability,” he said.

Previously, it was reported that the Chief of the Maluku Regional Police, Police Inspector General Dadang Hartanto, directly led a press conference on the results of the Polri’s Professional Code of Ethics Commission (KKEP) hearing regarding a member of the Maluku Regional Police’s Satbrimob unit, Bripda Mesias Siahaya.

During the hearing, Bripda Mesias was officially given the sanction of Dismissal Without Honour (PTDH). In his statement to the media, Dadang affirmed that the Polri will not tolerate serious violations, especially those that undermine public trust.

“The Polri does not tolerate any form of violation of the code of ethics and violent behaviour that undermines the values of professionalism and public trust. The handling of this case is carried out objectively, transparently and fairly,” he said, Tuesday, 24 February 2026.

For information, the Brimob member who committed the assault against a Madrasah Tsanawiyah (MTs) student with the initials Arianto Tawakal (14), resulting in his death near the Uningrat Campus, Tual City, Maluku, on Thursday, 19 February 2026, has been secured and detained at the Tual Police Station’s detention centre. The Maluku Regional Police has ensured that the legal process against the member in question will proceed without compromise.