KPAI Asks Police To Release Children Detained Since August 2025 Riots

Mass demonstrations rioted in front of the DPR Jakarta Building on August 25 at noon. Towards the afternoon, the demonstration oration moved to the Pancasila Gate to be conducive. (Bambang E-VOI)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) hopes that the National Police will soon find the mastermind behind the riots at the end of August 2025, and release children who are suspects in riots from detention.

"Immediately release children from detention to prevent them from potential stigmatization and criminalization, especially avoiding serious criminal threats as perpetrators of riots," said KPAI member Badminton Apituley when contacted, Friday, confiscated by Antara.

KPAI assessed that the National Police really understands the mobilization and exploitation patterns of children that occurred in demonstrations that ended in chaos in the context of competition and power contestation.

"Given that similar patterns have occurred repeatedly in Indonesia, at least in the last 10 years. In addition, the police also have at least social data on the arrested children," saidLA Apituley.

Thus, his party is optimistic that the police can find the mastermind behind the August riots in a number of areas.

"With the experience of handling previous similar cases, knowledge in the form of social data for children is important to recognize the background and ability of children to do or even incite a riot, it is not impossible that the police will find the real culprit faster," he said.

In addition, he continued, by ensuring that the examination process for children who use a child-sensitive forensic interview approach is complemented by digital evidence through digital forensics that can uncover networks and communication channels or even the chain of command of riots, the police will find the real culprit faster.

Previously, there were 959 people named as suspects in the August 2025 riots. Of these, nearly 300 of them were children.

Kabareskrim Polri, Komjen Pol Syahardiantono, said that until now the National Police had received and handled 246 police reports, both at the National Police Headquarters level, especially the Directorate of Cyber Crime, Bareskrim Polri, and by 15 Regional Police throughout Indonesia.