Yogyakarta – A student at the Yogyakarta State University (UNY) named Perdana Arie was reportedly arrested by the Yogyakarta Regional Police (Polda DIY) on suspicion of involvement in a demonstration at the end of August.
In a press release by the Jogja Calling (Jogja Memanggil) Alliance, the group said that Arie was visited by dozens of police officers at his residence on Wednesday September 24. He was then taken away by officers on the grounds that he had been named a witness in connection with a demonstration in front of the Yogyakarta Regional Police Headquarters (Mapolda) on Friday August 29.
"The Polda DIY did not bring an arrest warrant, no letter on Perdana Arie's status as a witness, never mind a no summons for Perdana Arie to testify, which should have been without making an arrest!", read a Jogja Calling statement received by CNN Indonesia on Tuesday September 30.
The statement continued saying that Arie's status was shortly upgraded from witness to suspect. He was also reportedly forced to agree to legal assistance facilitated by the Yogyakarta Regional Police.
"Perdana Arie was also forced to make a BAP [Police Investigation Report], without being given the right to remain silent and choose his own legal representation as a citizen when facing the law!", the statement continued.
Meanwhile, the Jogja Memanggil Alliance stated that Arie was actually a victim of actions by the authorities during the mass protest on August 29, which resulted in him having to be rushed to the Bhayangkara Hospital because he was having convulsions.
Atqo Darmawan Aji, a member of the People's Advocacy Front for Democracy and Justice (Bara Adil), said that the appointment of legal counsel by the Yogyakarta Regional Police was without coordination with Arie's family, so the power of attorney has now been revoked and given to Bara Adil.
Arie also revealed to Aji that during his arrest officers did not act in accordance with police arrest procedures under the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP). He gave assurances that for the moment his client is fine.
"During his arrest he did indeed claim there were acts of violence. Although it wasn't so violent that it left obvious injuries or marks, no. But there were actions that he said that were outside the provisions of the Criminal Code related to arrests, detention and the police report questioning", he explained.
Aji said that his client has been accused of committing a criminal act that violated the provisions of Article 170 or Article 187 or Article 406 of the Criminal Code (KUHP).
"So, we also don't know yet how many BAP (for Perdana Arie) there are. Yesterday, Monday, the additional BAPs were [done while] accompanied by a colleague from Bara Adil. Then we're still trying to communicate additional information about what was in the previous BAP, we're still digging into it", he concluded.
Meanwhile the head of Yogyakarta Regional Police public relations divisions, Senior Commissioner Ihsan, did not respond when contacted by telephone or WhatsApp for confirmation regarding Arie's arrest.
Jogja Calling Alliance statement
The Jogja Calling Alliance views the arrest of Arie and Kamisan (Thursday Action) activist Muhammad Fakhrurrozi, also known as Paul, by the East Java Regional Police several days ago as two of many arbitrary actions by police against civilians involved in last month's demonstrations.
According to the group, the police have named 959 people as suspects in connection with the demonstrations that took place simultaneously across Indonesia. Of these, 295 still have the status of children.
Furthermore, during the wave of demonstrations in Yogyakarta on August 29-31, the Yogyakarta Regional Police detained 66 people, 24 of whom were children. Ten other protesters suffered serious injuries and required hospitalisation. The Alliance also highlighted the death of Rheza Sendy Pratama, a student from the Amikom University.
The Alliance believes the police's actions constitute a form of silencing and the criminalisation of civil society movements. "Instead of taking action against their officers who committed violence against demonstrators, the police are instead hunting down the activists, students and children who were demonstrating", they continued.
In its statement, the Jogja Calling Alliance made the following demands:
1. Urging the police to stop pursuing activists and civilians involved in the demonstrations in August-September 2025.
2. Urging the police to release all activists and civilians detained on the grounds of involvement in the demonstrations in August-September 2025.
3. Urging the National Police Commission (Kompolnas), the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) and the Human Rights Ministry to actively assist and seek the release of the suspects currently detained by the police.
4. Encouraging the Indonesian Ombudsman to monitor alleged maladministration and arbitrary arrests carried out by the authorities in a number of regions.
5. The Yogyakarta Regional Police must be transparent and provide access to legal assistance to suspects who are currently being detained.
6. The Yogyakarta Regional Police must release the activists and civilians who are detained because demonstrating is a right, not a criminal act.
7. National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo must resign or be sacked because he has failed to lead the police as an institution.
8. Carry out comprehensive reform of the National Police by listening to and involving civil society.
9. Request that the Dr Sardjito Public Hospital provide transparent data regarding the number of victims treated and provide medical records to victims as is their right.
(kum/dal)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Mahasiswa UNY Disebut Ditangkap Polisi Terkait Aksi di Polda DIY".]
