Police Anticipate Arrival of PSHT Martial Arts Members from Outside Surabaya

A total of 1,839 personnel from the joint TNI and Police forces have been deployed to secure peaceful demonstrations by the PSHT martial arts group, held at a debt collector’s office on Jalan Teuku Umar and the Surabaya City Police Headquarters on Friday afternoon. This action is a consequence of a recent incident where a member of the martial arts group was attacked by a debt collector in Surabaya.

Surabaya Police Chief, Kombes Luthfie Sulistio, stated that the personnel were deployed due to the potential arrival of protesters from outside Surabaya. “Regarding this, there are several things that must be noted. First, there is the possibility of protesters arriving from other regions, even though today’s action is intended only for PSHT members from Surabaya,” said Luthfie on Friday.

To anticipate potential friction caused by the arrival of crowds from other cities, Luthfie has distributed joint officers to several points deemed prone to conflict. Officers have also been instructed to remain on alert until the series of actions is completed, rather than only during the protests themselves.

“The guarding officers will be divided into several points. In addition to the Surabaya Police Headquarters and Jalan Teuku Umar, officers will also be stationed at the city’s entry and exit points. Therefore, if members of the martial arts group from other regions are found, they are urged not to enter the city,” he said.

Luthfie also requested his subordinates to be wary of the possibility of infiltrators within the crowd, specifically those wearing masks, hoodies, or head coverings to disguise their identities. He further instructed officers to prioritise patience when dealing with the protesters, noting that many members of the martial arts group taking to the streets are minors.

“Since most of these martial arts members are minors and have unstable emotions, I hope the officers can be more patient and not be provoked,” he added.