Several People Hospitalised Following Clashes During Protest in Gondokusuman, Yogyakarta
A protest organised by the Civil Society Alliance at the intersection of Jalan Jenderal Sudirman, Gondokusuman, Yogyakarta, was marked by chaos. Police revealed that several demonstrators were rushed to the hospital due to injuries sustained during the unrest.
The Head of Public Relations for the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) Regional Police, Kombes Ihsan, stated via the @poldajogja Instagram account that pushing and shoving occurred between protesters and local residents. The chaos began when residents claimed that the road closures implemented by the protesters were disrupting local activities.
“This caused the participants to panic and some fell, resulting in minor injuries,” he noted in a post cited by detikJogja on Wednesday (2/9/2026).
Ihsan continued, explaining that the injured victims, who fell during the commotion, were immediately evacuated via an ambulance from Gadjah Mada University (UGM) to Panti Rapih Hospital. “After receiving treatment, they were permitted to return to their respective homes last night,” Ihsan clarified.
The crowd began their demonstration on Tuesday at approximately 4:00 PM WIB. The road leading to the Gramedia intersection became paralysed as it was used as the focal point for the action.
The initially peaceful protest gradually heated up after a group of people attempted to disperse the crowd. This group, identifying themselves as Yogyakarta residents, argued that the mass action was causing public unrest due to the resulting traffic paralysis.
Members of this group took turns shouting at the protesters to disperse, which incited the crowd’s emotions, leading to an exchange of insults. “The road is dead, don’t you understand!” shouted one individual representing the local residents, to which a protester responded with an insult directed at mass organisations.
Violence erupted following these shouts. At exactly 7:00 PM WIB, groups began chasing each other towards the north on Jalan Cik Di Tiro, with physical assaults reported at the scene.
Police officers on duty made several attempts to stabilise the situation, but repeated provocations thwarted efforts to restore order. Tensions remained high as both sides continued to challenge one another. Negotiations became difficult as insults were exchanged; residents continued to attempt to drive the protesters away, while the protesters responded with chants.
After a lengthy discussion, at approximately 9:50 PM WIB, both parties agreed to disperse, with the protesters moving north and the residents moving south. “Please consider the safety of our comrades; if we go home now, would you agree?” the protest coordinator asked, attempting to reach a consensus. “There will be plenty of time for us to gather again later. Please think about it. Everyone, without exception, we will go home, do you agree?”
However, neither side was willing to retreat first. Violence broke out again around 10:00 PM WIB when the group of residents attacked the student protesters, charging into the crowd. The chaos spread as far as the front of the BRI Office. Medical personnel were seen running amidst the sound of wailing ambulance sirens and shouting. Police riot units (Dalmas) were deployed to manage the situation.
Both groups were eventually pushed back towards the south and north respectively. The situation gradually returned to a peaceful state by 10:15 PM WIB.