Metro Police Chief: 1,240 People Arrested During A Week Of Demonstrations In Jakartav

Metro Jaya Police Chief Inspector General Asep Edi Suheri at Jakarta City Hall, Monday 1 September 2025 (Diah Ayu/VOI)

JAKARTA - Metro Jaya Police Chief Inspector General Asep Edi Suheri revealed that the police had arrested at least 1,240 people in a demonstration that led to clashes in the past week.

The arrests of thousands of people included demonstrations from Monday, August 25 to Sunday, August 31 and spread over a number of points, such as in front of the DPR RI building, around the Metro Jaya Police Headquarters, the Mako Brimob Kwitang area, the North Jakarta Metro Police, the Tanah Abang area, and other locations.

This was revealed by Asep after the coordination meeting of the DKI Jakarta Regional Leadership Communication Forum (Forkopimda) at DKI Jakarta City Hall.

"Polda Metro Jaya, from the beginning of the incident until now it has arrested around 1,240, of which they come from areas outside Jakarta, some from West Java, some from Java, from Banten," said Asep, Monday, September 1.

Polda Metro Jaya noted that the mass demonstrations in a number of areas came from various community groups, ranging from workers, students, teachers, to students who participated in demonstrations.

Asep claimed that the authorities took firm action but were still measured in finding anarchic actions in the field. The directive was in accordance with the instructions of President Prabowo Subianto and National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo.

"Hopefully in the future this situation will remain conducive, we have also received instructions from the President, and the National Police Chief, and the TNI Commander to take firm action against all anarchist actions and also those that damage public facilities," he said.

Previously, Polda Metro Jaya held large-scale patrols to maintain security in the midst of rampant demonstrations in the past week.

A total of 324 personnel were deployed to 13 jurisdictions with three groups divided. The first group targeted North Jakarta, East Jakarta and Central Jakarta.

The second group served in West Jakarta, Central Jakarta and South Jakarta. Meanwhile, the third group covered the South Jakarta to Depok areas.