AMKEI asks members to refrain, hand over Matraman clash case to police

Chairman of the DPP AMKEI Harian, Abu Bakar Refra (left), at the Polda Metro Jaya, Thursday, July 30, 2026/Ari Kurniansyah

JAKARTA - The Central Leadership Council (DPP) of the Indonesian Kei Youth Force (AMKEI) appeals to all members and people of East Indonesia to refrain and fully entrust the handling of the Matraman, East Jakarta clash case to the Indonesian National Police.

Chairman of the AMKEI DPP Harian, Abu Bakar Refra, conveyed the appeal following the death of Paskalis Horokubun in the incident that occurred in Matraman. He also expressed condolences to the victim's family.

"At the direction of the General Chairperson of the Indonesian AMKEI DPP, John Kei, we express our deepest condolences to the family of the late Paskalis Horokubun," Abu Bakar told the media, at the Polda Metro Jaya, Thursday, July 30, 2026.

Abu Bakar said AMKEI asked all managers, members, the organization's extended family, and the people of East Indonesia not to take the law into their own hands and to maintain order.

In addition, AMKEI completely handed over the legal process to the National Police and asked that the case be investigated professionally, transparently, and fairly. The organization also stated that it was ready to cooperate if during the investigation process there was found to be involvement of members or parties who had relations with AMKEI.

"AMKEI asks the investigating police to investigate the parties and social media accounts that are suspected of spreading hatred or discrimination against the people of East Indonesia, and to process them in accordance with applicable laws," continued Abu Bakar.

The public is also urged not to spread unverified information, provocations, and content that has the potential to trigger conflict between groups.

Abu Bakar emphasized that the General Chairperson of the DPP AMKEI, John Kei, was committed to maintaining unity, peace, national stability, and the integrity of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

"AMKEI is ready to synergize with the government, security forces, and all elements of society in maintaining diversity and preventing social conflicts," he said.

Furthermore, in response to the police's designation of seven suspects, Abu Bakar stated that his party respected the ongoing legal process. He hopes that investigators will continue to develop the case if there are still other perpetrators involved.

"The seven suspects are not the maximum rather than those who committed vandalism. We hope that anyone involved in this crime or violence can be processed so that there will likely be other suspects," he said.

He emphasized that handling cases was not about being satisfied or dissatisfied with the number of suspects, but ensuring that every perpetrator who committed an act against the law was processed according to the rules.

As a mitigation step after the incident, Abu Bakar revealed that AMKEI, together with other East Indonesian community organizations, including PETIR and Ambon community representatives, had coordinated since a few days after the incident to jointly support the law enforcement process.

"We have all coordinated to jointly encourage the police to enforce the process of justice against those who commit acts against the law in the violence in Matraman," he said.

He ensured that all elements of the East Indonesian people had agreed not to retaliate and fully handed over the handling of the case to the police.

"Friends from the eastern region all agree to work together to keep Jakarta safe and peaceful," he concluded.