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Jakarta, May 2, 2025 – Police officers carried out repressive and brutal actions and arbitrary coercion against the masses celebrating International Workers' Day 2025 in Jakarta. There were a series of actions by the Police Officers that constituted criminal acts, violating the provisions of laws and regulations, ignoring the Code of Professional Ethics, and international human rights principles.
PHOTO : MayDay 01-May-2025 In Front Of The Jakarta People's Representative Council building, Action by Workers,
The masses who were members of Gebrak (Workers' Movement with the People) held a demonstration in front of the DPR Building since 09:00 WIB in celebration of International Workers' Day 2025. At this moment, the protesters demanded the government and DPR to protect the rights of workers/laborers and guarantee welfare and non-discriminatory policies. Based on monitoring and assistance from the Advocacy Team for Democracy (TAUD), we noted several facts about the law violations by security forces during the mass action:
Police Violate the Law and Act Repressively and Brutally on the Demonstrators While the Demonstration is Still Ongoing :
a. Police officers blocked, searched the demonstrators' equipment and personal belongings of students who were demonstrating in front of the DPR Building at around 08:20 WIB. There were even students who were accused of being an anarchist group without a clear basis. These actions have violated Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 1 of 1981 concerning Criminal Procedure Law and indicate serious violations of the right to express opinions as regulated in Article 5 of Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 9 of 1998 concerning Freedom of Expression in Public.
b. Police officers abused paramedics who were on duty at the medical post. We found that 4 of the 14 demonstrators who were arrested were medical team members and were carrying out their duties to provide medical assistance. This medical team was abused in the form of beatings on the head and neck.
c. Police officers brutally attacked the demonstrators. We found 3 demonstrators who had head wounds due to physical violence. As many as 13 of the 14 protesters who were arrested suffered external wounds and bruises all over their bodies.
d. Police officers closed public facilities by installing barbed wire on the Pedestrian Bridge (JPO), which should have been public access.
e. The action was disbanded without any legal warning at around 17:00 WIB. Arrests accompanied by violence were carried out while the action and musical entertainment were still ongoing with the use of water cannons and tear gas.
f. Violence was carried out against journalists and obstruction of journalistic work which violates Law Number 40 of 1999 concerning the Press.
g. Acts of sexual violence, both physical and non-physical, were carried out against a female participant in the action. This violates Law Number 12 of 2022 concerning Criminal Acts of Sexual Violence.
h. The officers were not wearing official uniforms, did not show their identities, and were wearing clothes like the protesters.
Police Officers Obstruct Access to Legal Assistance for Demonstrators,
a. Access to information regarding the names of those arrested was only granted at 21:00 WIB.
b. TAUD lawyers were asked to hand over their work phones without a valid reason.
c. Demonstrators' phones were confiscated, preventing them from contacting their families and legal counsel. This violates Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 60 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
Violations of the Law by Police Officers in the Process of Examining Demonstrators,
a. Urine tests were carried out by force, even before there was legal assistance. Personal data such as fingerprints and email were also requested without basis.
b. The examination was carried out with a "clarification/investigation/interrogation report" which is not recognized in the Criminal Procedure Code.
c. The examination lasted until early morning (05:00 WIB), on victims with serious injuries and in a state of exhaustion.
d. The examination of the victim was continued without legal counsel even though the doctor had asked the victim to rest.
e. The police delayed access to the hospital and only allowed it after a long debate. This worsened the victim's condition.
The series of actions above threaten civil liberties and violate Law Number 9 of 1998, the Criminal Procedure Code, the Human Rights Law, the Narcotics Law, the Personal Data Protection Law, and Regulation of the Chief of Police Number 8 of 2009.
We are of the view that:
The entire process of arrest and examination is legally and administratively invalid, and must be canceled by law.
The police action degrades human dignity and constitutes a violation of human rights.
The actions of obstructing journalists, violence against the medical team, blockading the JPO, and forced disbandment are forms of suppressing freedom of expression.
Based on these things, we urge:
The Jakarta Metro Police Chief stops the illegal examination process and releases the 13 people who are still being detained.
The National Police Commission investigates the unprofessional actions of the Jakarta Metro Police.
The Jakarta Metro Police Propam Division takes action against violations of discipline and the profession of officers.
The National Human Rights Commission investigates human rights violations in the May Day 2025 action.
The National Commission on Violence Against Women investigates gender-based violence in handling the mass action.
The National Police Chief evaluates the handling of the action as a whole and imposes sanctions on violators of the law.
