National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) Will Seek Information From Perpetrators Of Motorcycle Taxi Accident

JAKARTA - The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) will question seven suspects in the Brimob tactical vehicle (rantis) that ran over an online motorcycle taxi (ojol) driver, killing him while dispersing a protest in Central Jakarta on Thursday evening (August 28th).

"This afternoon, we will also question the seven perpetrators who have been questioned by Propam (the National Police's Professional and Security Division)," said Komnas HAM Chairperson Anis Hidayah, as reported by ANTARA on Friday, August 29th.

Komnas HAM is paying serious attention to and expressing its deepest condolences for the death of the online motorcycle taxi driver, Affan Kurniawan, in the incident, as well as the other injured victims.

"We condemn the actions of the Indonesian National Police (Polri) who committed brutal acts that resulted in the loss of life," he said.

In addition, Komnas HAM has formed a team to monitor several locations in Jakarta, including the Jakarta Metropolitan Police (Polda Metro Jaya) and several hospitals where the victims were treated.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Chairperson of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), Putu Elvina, stated that based on preliminary investigations, her institution has found at least two preliminary facts.

First, there is a strong suspicion of excessive use of force by authorities in handling the demonstration on Thursday (August 28th), resulting in fatalities and hundreds of injuries.

"The second fact is that there were disproportionate and unnecessary restrictions on freedom of opinion and expression by the authorities," Putu added on the same occasion.

According to Komnas HAM, the excessive use of force, which did not comply with National Police Regulation No. 16 of 2006 concerning Crowd Control and National Police Regulation No. 1 of 2009 concerning the Use of Force in Police Actions against demonstrators, constitutes a violation of the right to freedom of opinion and expression.

"The police dispersed the demonstrators at 3:00 PM WIB. Furthermore, Komnas HAM also found efforts by the government and police to restrict information through the use of social media," Putu explained.

He also reminded everyone of the rights to freedom of association, assembly, and expression, as guaranteed by the constitution, Law Number 39 of 1999 concerning Human Rights, and Law Number 9 of 1998 concerning Freedom of Expression in Public.

The incident involving a Brimob vehicle running over an online motorcycle taxi driver occurred on Thursday evening (August 28th), after various community groups holding a demonstration around the parliamentary complex in Jakarta were repelled by police.

Consequently, chaos spread to various areas around the parliamentary complex, from Palmerah, Senayan, to Pejompongan. The incident involving the vehicle running over the online motorcycle taxi driver is suspected to have occurred in the Pejompongan area.

National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo apologized directly to Affan Kurniawan's family at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM), Jakarta.

"We express our condolences and apologize to the family of the deceased for this tragedy," said the Chief of Police.

Meanwhile, the Head of the National Police's Propam Division, Inspector General Abdul Karim, stated that his team is questioning seven members of the Mobile Brigade Corps (Satbrimob) of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police (Polda Metro Jaya) regarding the incident. The seven members were in the armored vehicle that hit the victim.

Inspector General Karim detailed the seven members of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police's Mobile Brigade Corps (Satbrimob) being questioned as follows: Police Commissioner C, Second Assistant Inspector M, First Brigadier R, First Brigadier B, First Brigadier M, Baraka Y, and Baraka J.