4 Activists in Bali Arrested by Police, One Person Becomes a Suspect in the August 2021 Demonstration

PIXABAY ILLUSTRATION

DENPASAR - The Bali Police confirmed the arrest of four activists arrested by the police in Denpasar. One person was taken to the National Police Headquarters, Jakarta.

"One person was taken to the police headquarters by the Criminal Investigation Unit. The three (people) were examined as witnesses and have been sent home," said Head of Public Relations of the Bali Police, Kombes Ariasandy, Monday, December 22.

The four activists were arrested for their alleged involvement in a protest on August 30, 2025.

The four activists who were arrested had the initials TW, MH, DR, MR, on Friday (19/12). One person, TW, was detained.

Head of Advocacy of LBH Bali, Ignatius Rhadite, separately said that TW's family had received a letter of determination of the suspect earlier.

From the family's statement, TW was named a suspect on Thursday (18/12) or one day before TW was arrested.

Rhadite was surprised by the arrest and determination process of the suspect, which was considered to have violated the law because the determination of the suspect was not preceded by an examination as a witness.

"It is strange to refer to the Constitutional Court (MK) decision that the determination of a suspect must have a prospective examination of the suspect must be examined as a witness, while the TW has never been called at all, suddenly arrested and the determination of the suspect first exists," said Rhadite, in a written statement.

The article that was suspected for TWaykni was Article 160 of the Criminal Code regarding incitement, Article 28 paragraph 2 and 3 of the ITE UU regarding the dissemination of false news, Article 76 of Law Number 35/2014 concerning child protection, because it is considered to invite children to demonstrate.

TW is also suspected of Article 212-Article 214 because he is considered to have ignored the appeal of the authorities.

"How many layers of articles are suspected. The Bali Police are looking for a scapegoat for the August 30th action," he explained.

He said, after TW was taken to the Criminal Investigation Unit, Jakarta, the LBH Bali team communicated with LBH Jakarta.

LBH Jakarta visited the Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police at the Directorate of Dittipidum.

But LBH Jakarta was prevented from entering by the police on the grounds that the family had appointed a lawyer so that there was no need for LBH Jakarta. In fact, LBH Bali had communicated with TW's mother.

"Ditelepon di depan polisi oleh LBH Jakarta dengan loudspeaker, pihak keluarga telah menyerahkan proses ke LBH Jakarta jadi belum ada penunjukkan pengacara. Tidak ada seperti yang diklaim polisi sudah ada penunjukkan pengacara," ujarnya.