Hundreds of Semarang Students Besiege Central Java Police Headquarters, Demanding Stalled Police Reform

SEMARANG — Hundreds of students organised under the Greater Semarang Alliance staged a demonstration in front of the Central Java Provincial Police Headquarters (Mapolda Jateng) on Thursday, 26 February 2026, afternoon. During the action, they highlighted and criticised the stalled Polri reform agenda. They also condemned the continued violence perpetrated by police, including the death of a junior secondary school student named Arianto Tawakal at the hands of Brimob personnel in Tual City, Maluku, which occurred recently.

The students unfurled banners containing protests against Polri. Among them were slogans reading “Hold Police Accountable”, “Police Reform”, “Justice for Arianto.T”, and “Repression is Not the Solution: Complete Police Reform”.

Kevin Kurnia Priambodo, Chairman of the Student Executive Board (BEM) of Semarang State Polytechnic (Polines), stated that the demonstration with the primary agenda of calling for police reform in front of Mapolda Jateng was attended by between 300-400 students. They came from approximately 15 universities in Semarang and its surroundings.

“In this action, we are all in agreement that this is an action initiated by the Greater Semarang Alliance. We do not want it to be infiltrated by anyone present here,” said Kevin when interviewed by media personnel.

He stated that the main demand of the Greater Semarang Alliance masses was police reform. “Until this very moment we have still not seen any progress in police reform; rather, we are witnessing a regression,” he said.