Politics · Indonesia · 3 hrs ago
Police suspect infiltrators sparked clashes after peaceful Yogyakarta protest
A peaceful protest in Yogyakarta turned into clashes on the evening of 28 October, continuing into the early hours of the next day.
The demonstration in the Malioboro area and near the regional parliament criticised the government of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
Police suspect unidentified people joined after protesters dispersed and provoked the violence, including by throwing objects and fireworks at officers.
Several people were detained, and police say one was carrying a sharp weapon; officers are investigating them.
No one was killed, but some officers were injured, while a protest group said police used excessive force, including water cannon and tear gas.
The protesters had called for changes including free education, better jobs and an end to land seizures.
Police say the area is now calm and that tourism, businesses and daily travel have returned to normal; they say legal action against those responsible will follow.
Police in Yogyakarta suspect unidentified infiltrators sparked clashes after a peaceful protest on Wednesday, October 28.
The protest in central Yogyakarta criticized the government of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
Police said some people threw hard objects, firecrackers and fireworks at officers, and that one person detained at the scene had a sharp weapon.
Police reported no deaths, but said some officers were injured; the clashes continued into the early hours of Thursday.
A group involved in the protest said the public action at Kilometer Zero had ended peacefully and warned against intimidation or repressive action by police.
- Who
- Protesters, unidentified people suspected by police of infiltrating the gathering, and police officers.
- What
- Clashes followed a peaceful protest; police suspect infiltrators provoked them.
- When
- Wednesday, October 28, with clashes continuing into the early hours of Thursday, October 29.
- Where
- Malioboro, the Yogyakarta regional parliament building and nearby areas in Yogyakarta.
- Why
- Police said suspected infiltrators provoked the clashes; the protest had criticized the national government.
Yogyakarta police
Forum Cik Di Tiro
Cause of clashes
Yogyakarta police
Police blamed unidentified infiltrators who allegedly provoked violence after the peaceful protest.
Forum Cik Di Tiro
FCD said the public action at Kilometer Zero had ended peacefully and objected to any intimidation or repressive action against protesters.
Police response
Yogyakarta police
Police said arrests were necessary to control public order and protect public safety.
Forum Cik Di Tiro
FCD criticized the nighttime response, alleging an excessive deployment of forces, water cannon, tear gas and beatings.
A protest criticizing the Prabowo-Gibran government took place in central Yogyakarta.
Forum Cik Di Tiro said the public action at Kilometer Zero had ended peacefully.
An unidentified group arrived from the west and moved towards the regional parliament building, according to police; clashes followed.
Clashes were reported to have continued into the early hours.
Police said the area was calm and public activities were proceeding normally.
- Protest date
- Wednesday, October 28
- Main locations
- Kilometer Zero, Malioboro and the Yogyakarta regional parliament building
- Protest group
- Jogja Memanggil Alliance
- Protest demands
- 10 demands, including free education and the withdrawal of the military to barracks
- Fatalities
- Police reported none
- Detained person
- Police said one person was caught carrying a sharp weapon
What people are saying
The Yogyakarta police firmly state that the tensions that occurred that night were purely triggered by irresponsible infiltrators, who tried to tarnish the peace that fellow students had built in an orderly manner.
These individuals provoked and carried out anarchic acts by throwing hard objects, firecrackers, fireworks and other dangerous materials at security personnel in the field.
We ensure that today all tourism activities in Malioboro, the community’s economic activity, and residents’ mobility in the Special Region of Yogyakarta are proceeding normally, safely and comfortably.
This condition must not become a reason for officers to intimidate or take repressive action against people in the Malioboro area and its surroundings.