Jakarta Police: Officers Only Arrest Rioters, Not Protesters

September 16, 2025 | 12:47 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta Metro Police arrested dozens of individuals allegedly involved in riots during the wave of protests in late August 2025. Among them, several were found guilty of damaging public facilities and have been named as suspects.

The Jakarta Metro Police Chief Inspector General Asep Edi Suheri revealed that a total of 16 vandals have been apprehended. "We have arrested 16 suspects who committed (vandalism) in four different locations," Asep said during a press conference on Monday night, September 15, 2025.

Nevertheless, Asep assured that none of those arrested were protesters. "All the suspects we have arrested are perpetrators of arson and vandalism, not protesters," stated Asep.

Asep mentioned that the perpetrators deliberately came to carry out acts of vandalism at several public facilities. According to Asep, the vandals showed no intention of participating in any demonstration at all.

According to Asep, the perpetrators intentionally aimed to disrupt public order. "They are troublemakers who came to disrupt order by burning and damaging public facilities," Asep declared.

The suspects carried out acts of vandalism and arson in four different locations. These locations include the Arborea Cafe of the Ministry of Forestry, a Transjakarta bus shelter in front of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, the parliamentary building, and the Transjakarta bus shelter at the Jakarta Metro Police headquarters.

The Jakarta Metro Police previously had identified 43 suspects allegedly involved in the riots during the August protests in Jakarta. "We have identified 43 suspects for an alleged series of anarchist actions," said the Head of the Public Relations Division of the Jakarta Metro Police, Brigadier General Ade Ary Syam Indradi, during a press conference on Thursday, September 4, 2025.

The Jakarta Metro Police categorized the 43 individuals into two groups, the first being suspected of acting as provocateurs. "There are six suspects accused of incitement," said Ade Ary.

The six incitement suspects are Delpedro Marhaen, Syahdan Husein, Khariq Anhar, Muzaffar Salim, Figha Lesmana, and a man with the initial RAP. They are all currently detained at the Jakarta Metro Police headquarters.

Meanwhile, the second group consists of those suspected of causing damage or vandalism to buildings, public facilities, vehicles, and clashes with officers. The aforementioned 16 suspects are included in this group.

Nabiila Azzahra contributed to the writing of this article

Editor’s Choice: Indonesian Police Name Seven Suspects for Provocation, Incitement on Social Media Leading to Riots

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News

Jakarta Metro Police Form Special Team to Search for Three Missing Protesters

1 jam lalu

Online Motorcycle Taxi Drivers Set to Protest at DPR Tomorrow; Here Are Their Demands

6 jam lalu

Nepal's Political Future Now in Army's Hands

7 jam lalu

Pro-Palestine Demonstrators Force Cancellation of Spanish Cycling Event

14 jam lalu

Nepal Protests Leave 72 Dead, Interim PM Announces Relief Fund

16 jam lalu

Protesters Reject Indonesia's Police Reform, Push for "Restoration" Instead

17 jam lalu

Indonesia's Rights Minister Proposes Parliament Courtyard as Protest Venue

20 jam lalu

Palace Supports "Democracy Square" at Parliament for Demonstration

20 jam lalu

Thousands of Police Deployed to Secure Anti-Police Reform Demonstration in Jakarta

20 jam lalu

Human Rights Minister Proposes Designated Protest Zone at Parliament

1 hari lalu