Thousands of Students Protest at the Central Java Police Headquarters, Demanding Police Reform
Amidst heavy rain, thousands of students crowded the streets in front of the Central Java Police Headquarters on Jalan Pahlawan, Semarang, on Thursday afternoon (26 February). They demanded comprehensive police reform and transparency in handling cases involving police officers.
Media Indonesia’s reporter observed that thousands of students from various universities in Semarang, wearing their university jackets in green, blue, yellow, and various other colours, remained standing in the heavy rain to voice their demands for police reform.
The renewed demonstration by thousands of students was triggered by allegations of police brutality against a student, leading to the student’s death in Maluku some time ago. They displayed posters and banners on the street about police reform and demands for transparency in handling the case.
The demonstration caused traffic on Jalan Pahlawan towards Simpanglima to be temporarily closed, but the opposite lane remained open until traffic was diverted to avoid congestion, as the students continued their protest until late in the evening.
Even when it was time for the Maghrib prayer and a police officer recited the call to prayer using a loudspeaker, the students remained, voicing their aspirations and demands. However, several officials and police officers came out of the Central Java Police Headquarters and distributed drinking water to the protesters who wanted to break their fast.
“The students’ demands are not just talk. First, there must be police reform. Second, what has not been addressed is the reform of the police reform team,” said Septia Linasari from the Faculty of Medicine at Unnes Semarang, who is also the President of the Unnes Student Executive Council.
In addition, Septia Linasari said that the demonstration also demanded transparency in handling cases involving police officers, such as the case in Maluku. Similarly, in Semarang, there was the case of the shooting of the late Gamma. At Unnes, there was the case of Iko, and until now, it is not known what the progress is. (AS/E-4)