Hundreds Of Demonstrators Arrested By Polda Metro Jaya, IPW Alludes To Legal Aid Rights

Poster Jokowi Burned Demonstrators In Front Of The Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly Building/ Photo: IST

The mass clashes that occurred around the DPR RI Building in the "Emergency Warning" action guarding the Constitutional Court's Decision (MK) caused a number of victims from various circles. The victims fell from journalists, students, the public to the police.

In fact, many of the demonstrators are suspected of being arrested en masse by the police. Some of them also experienced violence, including those experienced by journalists.

Responding to this phenomenon, Indonesia Police Watch (IPW) condemned the violence of the authorities in capturing the demonstrators in front of the DPR RI Building, last Thursday, August 22.

Based on IPW records, hundreds of demonstrators were arrested by the police. However, law enforcement limits access to legal assistance for arrested demonstrators to be accompanied during the examination process at Polda Metro Jaya.

"In fact, according to the Criminal Procedure Code, the Law on Legal Aid, the Law on Justice, and the Covenan of civil and political rights states that everyone has the right to legal assistance to the legal issues faced. Meanwhile, based on information, the Metro Police only limits the number of advocates who can assist the demonstrators who have been arrested, which is quite a number," said the Chairman of Indonesia Police Watch, Sugeng Teguh Santoso when confirmed, Friday, August 23.

According to Sugeng, the demonstration is a public expression and is one of the Human Rights (HAM) guaranteed in Article 28 of the 1945 Constitution. The guarantee is even stated in Law 9 of 1998 concerning Freedom of Expressing Opinions in Public.

Demonstrations of students and the public in Jakarta and several cities in Indonesia protested the efforts of the DPR RI to ratify the PILKADA Bill which allegedly ruled out the decisions of the Constitutional Court No.60 and No.70.