National Police Chief: Refuse to Be Divided — Development Cannot Proceed Amid Unrest
National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo stated that the police force remains open to public demonstrations as a means of conveying aspirations and correcting government policy. However, the police chief cautioned the public against being easily divided or provoked by certain parties.
“Our hope going forward is that we can all serve as a cooling system, reminding one another so that we are not pitted against our fellow countrymen. Protest is permissible, because protest is part of correcting policies that are still not appropriate,” said the police chief whilst attending the peak reception of the 108th anniversary of Persatuan Ummat Islam (PUI) in Majalengka, West Java, on Monday (23/2/2026).
The police chief urged the public to conduct demonstrations within proper boundaries. He expressed concern about citizens being turned against one another, which would have a negative impact on national development.
“We must refuse to be baited and divided. Because that is precisely what certain foreign nations want — for Indonesia to descend into chaos and disorder. If Indonesia is in turmoil, in chaos, and its people are constantly clashing, then development will be unable to proceed,” said the police chief.
According to the police chief, Indonesia has often been unaware that its people are being pitted against one another by the forces of other nations. He expressed hope that the nation’s diversity could be safeguarded, enabling Indonesia to continue its leap towards becoming a developed country.
Furthermore, the police chief noted that conflicts persist in several regions across Indonesia, driven by issues ranging from ethnic and religious tensions, the distribution of natural resources, to border disputes.
The police chief called on all parties to remain vigilant against the potential for such conflicts, including the dangers of narcotics and online gambling targeting Indonesian society.
“On the other hand, Indonesia is currently facing a situation that I would describe as an emergency. Why? Because we are still confronting major challenges related to narcotics and online gambling,” he said.