Observer Urges Authorities to Coordinate Response to 'Black September' Protest Discourse
Political and intelligence observer Boni Hargens believes that the National Police, together with the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) and the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), possess sufficient resources and a proven track record to manage the dynamics of the ‘Black September’ mass action protests democratically and humanely.
Discourse regarding this wave of large-scale mass action is predicted to peak on 24 September 202/6 as a form of public response to several government policies and legislative discussions in the House of Representatives (DPR), including the Asset Seizure Bill.
Boni assesses that the ‘PRESISI’ paradigm (Predictive, Responsibility, Transparency, and Justice) of National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo serves as a highly relevant conceptual foundation for maintaining public security and order (Kamtibmas) without restricting civil rights.
“This approach encourages the National Police to be proactive rather than reactive in managing potential social conflicts. In other words, early detection, open communication, and de-escalation are the primary priorities before law enforcement measures are implemented,” Boni told reporters on Thursday (10/9/2026).
The Director of the Indonesian Election Institute (LPI) also emphasised the crucial importance of coordination between the three pillars of national security: the National Police as the executor of pro justitia functions, the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) for strategic data, and the TNI as a supporting force.
“Coordination between the Police, TNI, and BIN is an inevitability. Cross-sectoral collaboration allows each institution to play an optimal role in early prevention, mitigation steps, and post-factum measures such as easing tensions and reconciliation,” Boni asserted.
To ensure that field handling remains conducive, Boni suggested that the National Police should prioritise persuasive communication with protest coordinators well in advance to map out demands and prevent infiltration by third parties. Decisive law enforcement action should be used as a last resort (ultimum remedium) after the principles of negotiation and verbal de-escalation have been applied.
Boni added that the transparent management of public narratives and the provision of post-action evaluation mechanisms are also crucial to prevent disinformation and facilitate dialogue between the public and the government. According to him, the success of securing ‘Black September’ is measured not only by the absence of riots but by the extent to which the entire process operates within the legal framework and respects human rights.
“Security and democracy are not two opposing poles. The success of handling ‘Black September’ is not measured solely by the absence of riots, but by the extent to which the process proceeds within the corridors of law and respect for human rights,” he concluded.