Two Students Become Suspects Of Vandalism During The Job Creation Act Demo

Kapolresta Samarinda Kombes Pol Arif Budiman when giving an official statement to the media crew in Samarinda (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The Samarinda Police, East Kalimantan, named two people as suspects for vandalism during a student demonstration against the ratification of the Job Creation Law, Thursday, October 5 in front of the East Kalimantan DPRD building.

Kapolresta Samarinda, Kombes Arif Budiman, explained that during this action police officers secured the nine protesters who were indicated to have committed acts of anarchism.

"Two of them have been named suspects because they already have evidence and are carrying sharp weapons," said Police Chief Arif Budiman to the media crew in Samarinda, reported by Antara, Friday, November 6.

The police chief said the two suspects were students at a university in Samarinda City.

Both were named suspects with evidence of a badik type sharp weapon and wooden logs to destroy public facilities.

"The two youths had the initials FR (24) and WJ (22). The badik type sharp was found by the police from the FR agency when they were secured during the action," he explained.

In fact, one of the suspects is suspected of injuring a police officer with a sharp weapon that he was carrying.

"Our members have scratches on their hands. If we see it, this is no longer a demonstration because we have brought jewels. We will initiate a speech, because we have to act firmly," he said.

For his actions, the police charged FR with Article 2 Paragraph 1 of the Emergency Law number 12 of 1951. Meanwhile, WJ was sanctioned by Article 351 paragraph 1 concerning maltreatment.

According to the Police Chief, the detention of the nine protesters did not rule out the number of people going to increase, because it was suspected that many other demonstrators were carrying out similar anarchist acts.

"It is certain that they have prepared and planned this, they believe that we lock the fence so they cannot go inside. Yes, there is a possibility behind it, of course we will explore it to reveal it," he explained.

Not only deepening the case, Arif also said that the nine young men first underwent drug and COVID-19 tests.

As a result, one of them received reactive COVID-19 results, while the drug test results were still not out until the press conference this afternoon.

However, until now the police are still investigating and investigating these allegations, while completing the evidence.

Although two of them have been named as suspects, the remaining seven are currently under intense investigation by the police.

"We are still exploring their roles (the seven young men who were secured)," he continued.

Asked about the existence of repressive actions by the authorities against the demonstrators, Arif answered that the security for the action was in accordance with standard operating procedures.

Arif also asked the public, that events like this should not only be seen from one side.

"Yesterday's security is in accordance with the SOP. We are still securing the demonstration even though there is no notification. Because it has reached the deadline and the masses have acted anarchistically, we must take firm action to maintain conduciveness," he said.