The democratic crisis is now reaching its peak amid the production of regulations that do not address the welfare of the people. In this crisis situation, the People’s Representative Council (DPR) seem to have no shame and no empathy. This situation has given rise to great anger among the people. The state has responded with repressive actions that continue to cause casualties.

In Jakarta, an online motorcycle taxi driver lost his life after being run over by a Brimob tactical vehicle. In response to this situation, civilians took to the streets en masse to vent their anger. This wave of anger ultimately led to the deaths of seven other people.

The act of realizing a democratic state through protest was met with brutality from armed forces in the form of excessive use of violence. Not only did this violate the principles of democracy and human rights, it also confirmed that the state had failed to uphold the mandate of reform and become a state that sides with the people.

From August 29, 2025, until the publication of this press release, LBH Bandung has opened a legal aid hotline for democracy activists in West Java. This hotline was opened on the basis that the participants in the protests are not criminals. They are democracy activists whose rights must be respected and protected by the state based on human rights principles.

The Bandung Legal Aid Institute (LBH Bandung) recorded random arrests carried out by police officers in Bandung. A total of 147 people were arrested. Of that number, 23 people were arrested on August 29. Furthermore, on August 30, 83 people were arrested. Then, on August 31, 9 more people were arrested. When broken down by age category, of the total 147 people, 110 were adults, while the other 37 were minors. All of the arrested protesters were taken to the West Java Regional Police Headquarters. 

In addition to the arrests, LBH Bandung noted several acts of violence committed by the authorities against the protesters, including the use of expired tear gas to disperse them. These actions resulted in many injuries. Based on monitoring at the protest site and health posts throughout August 29-30, 2025, there were approximately 332 victims who suffered injuries. The majority suffered from shortness of breath and minor to severe injuries.

One of the participants in the demonstration was named a suspect and detained on charges of committing criminal acts of violence or threats of violence against officials performing their duties and criminal acts of violence against persons or property as stipulated in Articles 170, 214, and 406 of the Criminal Code. In addition, there was a participant whose legal status was upgraded to under investigation on charges of carrying sharp weapons as stipulated in Emergency Law No. 12 of 1951. This decision was the result of a legal process that did not comply with procedural law. They were forced to confess to acts they did not commit, accompanied by intimidation and torture.

Apart from Bandung, LBH Bandung also provided assistance and monitoring in various areas in West Java, namely Ciamis, Cianjur, Cirebon, Kuningan, and Indramayu. During the arrests on August 29-31, 2025, a similar pattern of repression by the authorities was observed. In Ciamis, 39 people were arrested and 16 of them were later named as suspects. In Cianjur, 106 people were arrested, while in Cirebon, three people were arrested.

The arrests were accompanied by acts of violence and actions that degraded human dignity. Based on the results of monitoring and legal aid work carried out by LBH Bandung, the police did not provide LBH Bandung with access to legal aid to assist the participants of the action. The detention lasted more than 24 hours. This is not in accordance with the applicable criminal procedure law. Moreover, most of those arrested were victims of arbitrary arrest. The police also committed physical violence against the participants, as evidenced by the many injuries sustained by the participants both during their transfer and upon their release from the West Java Regional Police Headquarters. In addition, the participants’ cell phones were confiscated arbitrarily. 

Amidst the community’s efforts to voice their aspirations, which are part of their right to freedom of opinion and expression, the state continues to violate human rights through its apparatus. This reinforces the finding that the state’s repressive actions are not only concentrated in big cities, but have spread systematically to other regions. This shows a pattern of silencing critical voices and public participation at the grassroots level, which is actually an important pillar of democratic life.

Violence by the authorities also reflects the government’s attitude in responding to public criticism. The president, as the person with ultimate control over the police, cannot pretend to be unaware. The president’s silence on the brutal actions of the police is tantamount to giving approval for these actions and constitutes a violation of human rights through omission. In fact, it is reasonable to suspect that this violence is a state strategy to silence criticism and discourage public participation in the governance of the country.

Therefore, LBH Bandung condemns all forms of state repression and urges:

1. The immediate release of all protesters who have been arrested and detained throughout Indonesia, especially in West Java;
2. Provide legal aid to the participants, especially those who are minors, as guaranteed by Article 14 paragraph (3) of the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and in accordance with the mandate of legal aid through Law Number 16 of 2011 concerning Legal Aid;
3. Stop violence against protesters, which is a violation of human rights, and police officers must prioritize actions that uphold human dignity and the right to be free from torture as stipulated in Article 28G paragraph (2) of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia
4. Strongly condemning the brutal practices of the police and the obstruction of citizens’ rights to express their opinions in public through various acts of violence, coercion, including the excessive use of force;
5. The Ministry of Human Rights, the Ministry of Law, the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, the National Human Rights Commission, the National Commission on Violence Against Women, the Indonesian Child Protection Commission, the National Commission on Disability, and the Indonesian Ombudsman, to encourage police institutions to stop arbitrary actions and release participants who have been arrested;
6. The Indonesian National Police to stop all brutal actions, stop random sweeping/searching/arrests, and arrests without grounds;
7. The President of the Republic of Indonesia and his staff to immediately take responsibility for the current situation.

In conclusion, LBH Bandung concludes from its monitoring of the protests that the current situation reflects a country that is increasingly repressive and harsh, which is increasingly characteristic of an authoritarian power that is anti-criticism. 

Contact:

+62 822 5884 3986 – LBH Bandung

Rafi12@lbhbandung.or.id – Head of Advocacy and Networking Division, LBH Bandung