Indonesia Police Watch Chairman, Sugeng Teguh Santoso

progresifjaya.co.id, JAKARTA – Indonesia Police Watch (IPW) has urged the Polda Metro Jaya to arrest the perpetrators responsible for the death of Bambang Setiawan (59) and the injury of Faturohman (18)—victims of a mob attack during the unrest surrounding the August 27, 2026, protest in the Pejompongan area of ​​Central Jakarta.

Beyond being a violation of the law, allowing violence by civilian groups against other civilians sets a dangerous precedent, suggesting that the state permits vigilantes to operate in Indonesia.

Addressing anarchic behavior by protesters is a duty that falls to the police under the law. The emergence of civilian groups or mass organizations committing acts of violence against anarchic actors—right before the eyes of police officers—creates the impression that the police are condoning such violence.

The incident gives the impression that the police failed to carry out their law enforcement duties. Consequently, IPW emphasizes that the killing of Bambang Setiawan—who was beaten to death by an unidentified group or mysterious mob—must not happen again in the future.

IPW views the events of August 27, 2026, as a recurrence of the Pam Swakarsa (civilian security force) practice. The appearance of a mysterious mob acting as an unauthorized security force to disperse the protest was a scenario the police should have anticipated.

The police are the guardians of democracy. Therefore, they must ensure that violence by civilian groups against citizens seeking to voice their aspirations to the House of Representatives (DPR) or the government does not recur.

IPW believes, that the death of Bambang Setiawan and the injuries sustained by Faturohman and several other protesters during the unrest following the August 27, 2026, demonstration will raise public questions regarding the Polri role in maintaining public security and order, enforcing the law, and providing protection, guidance, and service to the community.

The Polda Metro Jaya have stated, that they have named 49 individuals as suspects out of the 322 people arrested by the force.  According to the Head of Public Relations for the Polda Metro Jaya, Kombes Pol Bhudi Hermanto—as reported by Antara on Tuesday, September 1, 2026—44 of the total suspects (all adults) are being handled by the Polda Metro Jaya General Criminal Investigation Directorate. Meanwhile, the remaining four perpetrators are being handled by the Directorate for the Protection of Women and Children (Ditres PPA).

“IPW questions whether the suspects named by the Polda Metro Jaya include members of the mysterious mob group,” said IPW Chairman Sugeng Teguh Santoso on Tuesday, September 1, 2026.

“This needs to be clarified because there has been widespread public talk that a group from GRIB JAYA carried wooden clubs and was seen committing assaults during the protests that spanned from August 27, 2026, into the early hours of August 28, 2026. Furthermore, the GRIB JAYA leader, Hercules, was present at the scene of the unrest and ought to be questioned by the police,” he added.

Nevertheless, Sugeng continued, IPW maintains its support for taking legal action against anarchic rioters. However, the police must also take action against the mysterious mob groups or mass organizations acting as unauthorized security forces who engage in violence, thereby ensuring that a sense of justice is upheld for the public. (Bembo)