On the Murder Near SMAN 3, Sultan HB X Wonders Why Klitih Is Happening Again

DIY Governor Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X also commented on the assault case around SMAN 3 Yogyakarta, which killed a young man identified as AA (18) on Sunday (17 May) in the early hours. The Sultan said he had formed a team to identify the causes of the incident, noting that street violence or klitih, which often involves students in DIY, had been absent for some time. ‘Now, we are conducting an identification process, because for months there has been no klitih. Why is there more of it now? We do not know exactly, whether it is economic conditions or ordinary misbehaviour, we do not know. We are trying to identify it,’ he explained at the Kepatihan Complex in Jogja on Thursday, 21 May 2026. ‘What was done previously was to involve residents in guard duties to maintain security in their communities. But now it has resurfaced; what is the motive? We need to know that and delve into it, though there are no reports yet from the team,’ he added. The Sultan said he could not comment further until the identification results are known. ‘We have formed a team; the team is working to identify, but it is not that simple. It is not just with the police, but also with the community, residents, and others, about what is actually happening,’ he said. ‘Is it ordinary misbehaviour, or is it that seniors are guiding it? We do not know all of this yet, so we must not get it wrong,’ the Sultan concluded. Earlier, street violence or klitih occurred near SMAN 3 Jogja or around Kridosono Stadium in Jogja. In that incident one person died after being assaulted with a sharp weapon. Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit (Reskrim) of Polresta Yogyakarta, Kompol Riski Adrian, explained that the deceased was a young man identified as AA (18). The incident occurred on Sunday (17 May) in the early hours. ‘The victim identified as AA, born in 2008, died in the early hours, around 03:30 WIB,’ Adrian said when contacted by reporters on Sunday. Adrian said after the incident the victim was taken to Panti Rapih hospital. However, the victim was later pronounced dead and the case was being shifted to Bhayangkara for autopsy. Public Relations Head of Polresta Yogyakarta, Iptu Dani Hasan, added that preliminary investigations indicate the case began when the victim and a witness were chased by the suspect. Both the victim and the suspect were riding a motorcycle from Jalan Magelang. Dani said the suspect assaulted the victim with a sharp weapon. ‘When they arrived in front of the south gate of SMAN-3 Yka (Yogyakarta), the victim dismounted from the motorcycle and was immediately attacked by the suspect with a sharp weapon,’ Dani said. After the incident, the victim’s friends tried to take him to hospital. ‘When the witnesses and the victim arrived at Jalan I Dewa Nyoman Oka Kotabaru, Yogyakarta, the victim fell. He was helped by residents and transported to hospital using a church ambulance,’ he concluded.