Student Protesters Disperse at National Police Headquarters After Presenting Five Demands
A coalition of university students dispersed from National Police Headquarters at approximately 18:35 Western Indonesian Time after presenting five demands in connection with the fatal assault of a junior secondary school student with initials AT by Brimob member Bripda Mesias Siahaya from the East Nusa Tenggara Police Force.
The student alliance, comprising representatives from the University of Indonesia, UPN Veteran Jakarta and the Jakarta State Polytechnic, had gathered to protest the incident.
In a statement read by UI Student Executive Board Chairman Yatalathof Mashum during the demonstration, the coalition condemned the incident, stating: “In this holy month of Ramadan, we find ourselves in an unholy place, conducting this action under the hashtag police are criminals.”
The students presented five key demands. Firstly, they called for maximum criminal sentences to be imposed on the police officer responsible for AT’s death and all officials involved in repressive actions. Secondly, they demanded the removal of National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo and East Nusa Tenggara Regional Police Chief Inspector General Dadang Hartanto from their positions.
The coalition also demanded the release of all political detainees subjected to criminalisation, the establishment of limitations on police authority, and the withdrawal of the National Police from civilian government positions. Finally, they called for tangible results from the Police Reform Acceleration Commission, including structural, cultural and instrumental reforms within the National Police.
Mashum expressed disappointment at the failure to meet with the National Police Chief, stating: “Today, we as protesters were unable to meet with the National Police Chief. We were disappointed once again. The aspirations we have voiced are no longer being heard by them.”
The demonstrators warned of larger and more extensive protests in the coming days, vowing to return with greater numbers and more substantial action to push for their demands.