UGM Students Deny DIY Regional Police Allegations Regarding Pepper Spray During Gramedia Protest
UGM students involved in the protest at the Gramedia Cik Di Tiro intersection, Yogyakarta, on Tuesday (1/9/2026), have denied allegations by the DIY Regional Police claiming that the crowd brought and used a liquid suspected to be pepper spray. They emphasised that the liquid in the canisters seen in police documentation was antacid, carried by medical teams to treat individuals affected by tear gas or pepper spray.
The controversy emerged after the DIY Regional Police uploaded a video titled “Facts on the Ground: Findings of Pepper Spray and Personnel Handling” via their official Instagram account. In the post’s narrative, the police stated that based on visual recordings and digital evidence at the scene, canisters containing liquid suspected to be pepper or spicy spray were found coming from the direction of the crowd.
The DIY Regional Police also reported that seven personnel from the Yogyakarta City Police experienced health issues, including shortness of breath and skin irritation on their faces, after being exposed to the liquid. In response, a representative for the UGM students, Aditya, refuted this narrative.
He stated that the protesters arrived at the location to convey their aspirations peacefully and did not bring equipment to attack the authorities. He noted that the liquid featured in the police upload was actually equipment for field medical teams to treat victims of tear gas and pepper spray exposure.
“The protesters brought nothing but their voices and aspirations, with a full commitment to maintaining public safety and public facilities,” said Aditya during a press conference for the Cik Di Tiro Peaceful Protest at the UGM Roundabout, Yogyakarta, on Thursday (3/9/2026).
Aditya mentioned that the situation was initially conducive as the crowd began to gather at the Gramedia intersection around 4:00 PM WIB. The crowd even reportedly actively cleared the way for ambulances passing through. The situation escalated around 7:15 PM WIB following friction with a group identified by the protesters as an organisations (ormas).
“During that first altercation, some protesters had already seen that some members of the criminal organisation were armed, even with sharp weapons,” he continued.
The protesters then reportedly returned to their original location to consolidate. After discussions with the police and the group in question, the protesters claimed they reached an agreement around 9:50 PM WIB to disperse, provided their safety was guaranteed.
“The protesters agreed to compromise and disperse on the condition that the Police must ensure the safety of the protesters by dispersing the criminal organisation that had flooded the intersection,” said Aditya.
However, according to Aditya, when the protesters began to retreat towards the UGM Boulevard, the group was still present around the location. The protesters then chose to stop and requested that the police first secure the group deemed a threat to the safety of the protest participants.