Sentenced to Two Years' Imprisonment, Delpedro: Deeply Disappointed, Illogical
Jakarta – Delpedro Marhaen Rismansyah, the defendant in an alleged case of inciting demonstrations in August 2025, expressed deep disappointment with the two-year prison sentence sought by the public prosecutor against himself and three other defendants.
The charges were brought before the Jakarta Central District Court in Kemayoran on Friday, 27 February 2026.
“We are deeply disappointed with the two-year sentence, which we consider illogical. However, that is the reality of the process that has occurred,” Delpedro told reporters following the hearing.
“The two-year sentence does not deter us, does not frighten us, and instead serves as a test for the judge,” he insisted. “A test for the public and also for our legal system—how it is able to correct the prosecution’s flawed reasoning. That is where we await the judge’s role,” he added.
During his statement, Delpedro presented a thick blue-covered book titled “Operation to Silence Young People: The Largest since the Reformation”. The book is a report launched by a fact-finding commission and coalition of civil society organisations in 2026. According to Delpedro, the report details various incidents of unrest in Indonesia, particularly in Jakarta, involving the participation of military and police personnel.
“Yet to this day, not a single military officer or police member has been brought to court to answer for their responsibilities,” Delpedro stated. “Meanwhile, demonstrators across Indonesia have almost all been prosecuted, and today we arrive at a two-year sentence,” he added.
Co-defendant Muzaffar Salim announced that he and his three colleagues would present their defence statements at the next hearing scheduled for Monday, 2 March 2026. The defence statement will emphasise the right to freedom for civil society.
“Secondly, we are prepared to be tried. Two years is not a burden for us. What must be stressed is that those on trial are not us—not Syahdan, not Delpedro, not Khariq—but the future of young people themselves,” Muzaffar explained.