DPR Member Stresses Attack on Police in Jambi Threatens Rule of Law

Jakarta - Member of Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Nasyirul Falah Amru, has stressed that the attack on two members of the Jambi Police Traffic Unit who were on duty managing traffic flow is an act that potentially threatens the upholding of the rule of law in Indonesia. According to the politician familiarly known as Gus Falah, police officers carrying out state duties must receive full legal protection. “An attack on officers performing their obligations is not only an attack on state apparatus but also a form of resistance against state authority and the law enforcement system,” Gus Falah said in a statement in Jakarta on Thursday. He stated that the incident constituted an assault on state officials who were lawfully performing their duties. If such actions are tolerated, he continued, it could erode the rule of law and diminish the state’s authority in the eyes of the public. Under Article 348 of the National Criminal Code, any person who uses violence or the threat of violence against an official performing lawful duties can be sentenced to a maximum of two years’ imprisonment or a fine in accordance with applicable regulations. He explained that if the attack is carried out jointly and results in injury, the perpetrators can be charged with more severe provisions as stipulated in Articles 349 and 350 of the National Criminal Code. He therefore urged law enforcement officials to investigate the case thoroughly, including uncovering all parties involved and the motive behind the attack. “Law enforcement must be carried out firmly to provide a deterrent effect and serve as a warning to anyone who tries to resist officers with violence,” said the member of House Commission III, which oversees legal affairs, human rights, and security. As a result of the incident, one police officer sustained injuries and required medical treatment. The Head of Public Relations for the Jambi Regional Police, Commissioner Erlan Munaji, stated that the incident occurred around 6.45 a.m. Western Indonesia Time at the Angso Duo intersection, in front of Hotel T-One, on Jalan Sultan Thaha, Jambi City. According to witness statements, the perpetrator arrived on foot from the direction of Gentala Arasy heading towards Angso Duo Market. The perpetrator was not wearing footwear and was carrying sharp weapons, including a long samurai sword and two knives. A joint team from the Jambi Regional Police and the Jambi City Police subsequently arrested the suspect, identified by the initials AM, aged 30, in the Sipin area of Jambi City less than 12 hours after the incident. Based on a urine test, the suspect tested positive for methamphetamine and is currently undergoing further examination, including a psychiatric evaluation.