Police Explain Chronology of One Fatality Following 27 August 2026 Demonstration Riots
Jakarta Metropolitan Police have confirmed that one person died in connection with riots that occurred following a demonstration at the DPR/MPR building in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Thursday evening (27/8/2026). “We offer our condolences; one of our citizens has passed away,” said Jakarta Police Head of Public Relations, Senior Commissioner Budi Hermanto, during a press conference in Semanggi, South Jakarta, on Friday (28/8/2026).
Budi explained that the chronology of the fatality began with public reports of ongoing rioting around Pejompongan, Central Jakarta. Evacuation was then carried out after assessing security at the location, where unrest was still occurring. “The police, in order to carry out the evacuation, had to assess and calculate whether the evacuation would be safe for the officers conducting it,” Budi said.
Once the location was declared secure, the Jakarta Police Medical and Health Division evacuated a man who was found unconscious. The victim was then taken to the Indonesian Navy’s Dr Mintohardjo Hospital, but his life could not be saved. “Once the location was secured, the police medical team evacuated a man in an unconscious condition. He was taken to Mintohardjo Hospital, and despite treatment at the hospital, the person died,” Budi said.
He stated that the body was taken to the National Police Hospital in Kramat Jati on Thursday at around 11.30 pm Western Indonesian Time. However, the family refused an autopsy, so the cause of death has not yet been determined. “He was taken to the Police Hospital for identification, and this morning we met with the deceased’s child, who declined an autopsy. We proposed an autopsy to determine the cause of death, but it was refused, and a written statement has been issued,” Budi said.
He said he understood that the family is still grieving over the incident. “We are still considering both empathy and the family’s grief, which is why investigators have not yet been able to request further information,” Budi said.
He noted that the incident serves as a lesson in securing public demonstrations. He said a safe space must be created not only for demonstrators but also for other members of the public in the surrounding area. “Creating a safe space is not only for those expressing their aspirations. There are other members of the public who must be protected, and whose dignity, honour, lives and safety must be safeguarded,” Budi said.
According to circulating information, the victim who died was named Bambang Setiyawan, 59, a resident of Bendungan Hilir. He lost his life in the mass unrest on Jalan Pejompongan Raya, Central Jakarta, on Thursday evening.