Students Involved in May Day Protest Report Alleged Assault to Yogyakarta Provincial Police
Allegations of violence have struck two participants in the International Labour Day action in front of the Yogyakarta DPRD building on 1 May. The pair have now reported the incident to the Yogyakarta Provincial Police (Polda DIY).
The report was filed on Wednesday afternoon (6/5) and registered under number LP/B/290/V/2026/SPKT/POLDA/DIY. The victims, accompanied by activists from the Indonesian Student Union (SMI), were supported by the Yogyakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Yogyakarta) and the Cik Di Tiro Forum.
Wandi Syahputra, the legal representative from LBH Yogyakarta, stated that both victims were students who took part in the action. They are suspected of being physically attacked by members of an unidentified mass organisation.
He explained that the May Day action proceeded peacefully, with the protesters dispersing after voicing their aspirations in front of the DPRD DIY. However, the alleged violence occurred as some participants were passing along Jalan Perwakilan on the southern side of the DPRD DIY.
“After that, they dispersed one by one and then passed through Jalan Perwakilan, where the assault or beating began,” Wandi told reporters on Thursday (7/5/2026).
According to Wandi, the first victim was shouted at and forcibly stopped. Protest attributes carried by the victim, including a stick, were seized and used to strike him.
“The first victim was shouted at, forcibly stopped, then one of his action attributes—a stick—was taken by force and used to hit his body,” he said.
Meanwhile, the second victim experienced violence while attempting to document the incident using a mobile phone. The victim’s phone was seized before he was beaten.
“When his phone was taken, he was also beaten,” he said.
Wandi noted that both victims suffered bruises and pain from the alleged assault. The first victim has bruises on his hand and missed classes due to ongoing pain.
The second victim reported still feeling pain in his head after being struck from behind. In the report, the victims also alleged criminal acts under several articles.
“This report relates to several recommended articles: Article 262, Article 466, and Article 79,” he said.
LBH Yogyakarta has urged the police to investigate the case objectively and professionally.
“We hope that the investigators will proceed objectively and professionally against the perpetrators who committed violence against the protesters,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Head of Public Relations for Polda DIY, Commissioner Ihsan, confirmed upon enquiry that the police had received the report regarding the alleged assault. He explained that the Special Criminal Unit (SPKT) had handed the police report to the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (Ditreksrimum) of Polda DIY for further examination.
“It is true that on Wednesday, 6 May 2026, at 15:40 WIB, SPKT Polda DIY received the report from the complainant A (19) regarding the alleged case of assault and/or robbery with violence and/or jointly committing violence against persons or property,” said Ihsan on Thursday (7/5/2026).