Jakarta Police: Protesters Other Than Pati Group Intended Only to Cause Damage
Police said that the protesters who remained at the DPR until evening were accused of wanting to cause only damage.
On Thursday, August 27, a protest at the Jakarta Parliament (DPR) building descended into chaos, with the police pointing fingers at protesters outside the United Pati Society Alliance (AMPB). Senior Commissioner Budi Hermanto of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police alleged that these outsiders came solely to incite violence.
The AMPB protesters, on the other hand, were described as orderly in expressing their demands. They had called off their demonstration at the DPR after receiving representatives' permission to leave. According to Budi, the AMPB rally was meant to push for the ratification of the Asset Forfeiture Bill and the implementation of the death penalty for corruptors. The group emphatically denied any intention to oust President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming.
The police, however, painted a different picture. They claimed that the protesters occupying the DPR till late in the night acted uncoordinatedly, deliberately coming to wreak havoc. Budi stated that these individuals did not communicate their intentions clearly.
Around 7:00 PM, the police pushed back the remaining protesters, leading them towards the Ladokgi Flyover. Observers noted that the authorities initially deployed water cannons from within the Senayan complex, urging protesters to vacate the area. Following warnings and water cannon blasts, several police units pursued the demonstrators, some clad in all-black attire and wielding wooden sticks.
As the unrest spread, some protesters fled into the Inner City Toll area, chased down by police officers on motorcycles.
Written by urgent.news from Tempo.co English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
