Threatened and Terrorised, AMPB Pati Protesters Still Depart for Jakarta
Threats against bus companies transporting members of the Pati United Community Alliance (AMPB) to a protest in Jakarta have continued. Nevertheless, the intimidation has not deterred the demonstrators from heading to the House of Representatives (DPR) building to demand the passage of the Asset Forfeiture Bill for corruptors.
Based on monitoring by Media Indonesia on Wednesday (26/8), hundreds of AMPB members had gathered since morning at Pati town square in Central Java. They were preparing to board several buses to join their colleagues in Jakarta in demanding the passage of the Asset Forfeiture Bill and the death penalty for corruptors.
Threats from certain parties against bus companies were still being reported ahead of departure. One bus driver parked at the Pati Regency pendopo said he received a phone call from an unknown person asking him not to transport the demonstrators.
“There was a direct call to me asking me not to transport the group. If I insisted, they threatened to confiscate my driving licence, vehicle documents, and even the vehicle itself. They even threatened that the bus would be vandalised during the journey to Jakarta,” the driver said.
Regarding the certainty of departure, he said the decision rested entirely with the company. However, personally he stated he was ready to carry out his duties according to his superiors’ orders despite the risks involved.
AMPB representative Novi Andriyanta confirmed reports of threats against bus drivers and crew. However, he stressed that the intimidation would not stop hundreds of Pati residents.
“These threats do not dampen our resolve. We have prepared several buses and hundreds of people are ready to demonstrate at the DPR building,” Novi said. He added that the buses were rented at Rp13 million per unit using public donations, so all accommodation and meals for participants are guaranteed free of charge.
AMPB activist Sutekno, also known as Paijan Jawi, said the latest threats added to the various obstacles and attempts at silencing they had previously experienced. According to him, efforts to block them had actually increased the number of sympathisers.
Paijan detailed a number of silencing attempts experienced by the independent organisation, ranging from unilateral cancellations by bus owners due to pressure from certain parties, to the sudden disappearance of AMPB activists’ social media accounts.
In addition, transactions on the personal account of AMPB coordinator Supriyono, also known as Botok, at a state-owned bank were blocked or delayed. The account contained personal funds and donations amounting to Rp80.9 million.
“They thought blocking the account would cripple the struggle, but donations from various parties continue to arrive in person,” Paijan said.
The terror even continued during the journey. Paijan reported that as several buses passed along the Jakarta-Cikampek toll road, unknown individuals threw stones from an overpass targeting the group from Pati.
The demonstrators are scheduled to hold a large-scale protest on Thursday, 27 August 2026.