Minang Association Urges Police to Name Abu Janda a Suspect for Alleged Insult

The central board of the Minang Family Association (DPP IKM) is urging the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim Polri) to immediately name Permadi Arya, also known as Abu Janda, a suspect for the alleged insult and hate speech against the people of West Sumatra and the Minangkabau ethnic group. IKM hopes the legal case against Abu Janda will be resolved swiftly.

The demand was made by IKM following an official clarification session at Bareskrim Polri on Monday (6/7/2026). The clarification was a follow-up to Bareskrim’s invitation letter Number B/2962/VI/RES.1.1.1./2026/Dittipidum dated 26 June 2026, which referred to a police report Number LP/B/230/V/2026/SPKT/BARESKRIM POLRI dated 26 May 2026, filed by complainant Braditi Moulevey.

‘The acceptance of this clarification letter is a signal that the law is moving seriously. We are here not just to fulfil a summons, but to ensure this process does not stop halfway,’ said Defrizal Djamaris, Deputy Chairman for Law, Human Rights and Advocacy of the IKM Central Board.

IKM considers that Abu Janda’s remarks, which labelled the people of West Sumatra as barbarians, directly struck at the honour and dignity of the Minangkabau community. ‘Calling the Minangkabau a barbaric people is an attack on civilisation, not merely an insult to an individual,’ Defrizal stated.

IKM asserted that the legal basis for this report is strong and comprehensive. Two main articles are deemed to have been violated: Article 242 of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code on insulting a group of Indonesian citizens based on ethnic and regional identity, and Article 28 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 45A of the Electronic Information and Transactions Law concerning the dissemination of information that incites hatred based on ethnicity, religion, race, and inter-group relations via digital platforms.

IKM put forward four concrete demands to Bareskrim Polri. The organisation requests that the status of the case be immediately upgraded from inquiry to investigation, that Permadi Arya alias Abu Janda be named a suspect in the alleged hate speech and insult case, that the entire legal construction post-clarification be completed within a deadline accountable to the public, and that transparency of the process be guaranteed to the wider community as a form of law enforcement accountability.

IKM reminded that public trust in the National Police institution is being tested through this case. Should there be no significant progress within a reasonable timeframe, IKM does not rule out the possibility of submitting a formal letter of demand to the National Police Chief and Commission III of the House of Representatives.

The Secretary General of DPP IKM, Braditi Moulevey, expressed the organisation’s full commitment to following the entire process and cooperating at every stage of the examination, including presenting relevant key witnesses. IKM will also continue to coordinate with various mass organisations, community leaders, and civil society elements concerned with fair law enforcement.