Man Arrested By Police During Student Action April 21, His Colleagues Confirm He's Not A Provocateur

Youth arrested during a demonstration. Photo: Diah Ayu/VOI

JAKARTA - Police officers arrested one person suspected of being a provocateur during a demonstration by the Indonesian Student Alliance (AMI) at the Arjuna Wiwaha Horse Statue area, Central Jakarta, Thursday, April 21 yesterday.

The Student Political Block (BPP) denied that the man, known as SH, was a provocateur. Spokesperson for BPP Delpedro Marhaen emphasized that SH is one of the colleagues who joined his group.

"SH is not a provocateur and intruder, he is one of the colleagues from the Student Political Block (BPP), which is also BPP who is part of the Indonesian Student Alliance," Delpedro said in a written statement, Friday, April 22.

Therefore, Delpedro emphasized that the presence of SH in the action was his capacity as a mass action group who were members of the BPP and AMI.

Currently, it is said that SH is still being held at the Central Jakarta Police. SH is threatened with being snared under Article 216 of the Criminal Code with a threat of two years in prison. Delpedro also demanded that the police immediately release SH.

"If SH is not released immediately, we call on AMI's colleagues and others to come to the Central Jakarta Police to demand the release of SH," he said. Previously, the police arrested one person suspected of being a provocateur who joined the student group action line in the Monas area.

When a group of new students arrived at the Horse Statue, suddenly several police officers moved and arrested one person who was trying to join the ranks of the students.

The atmosphere was chaotic because the alleged provocateur tried to fight back. He insisted that he wanted to take part in the action.

"I am also part of the community, wow, this is democracy," exclaimed the man who was immediately taken by the police for safekeeping.