KontraS: Police Violence Dominates Shootings in the Last Year

The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) reported 651 acts of violence committed by the Indonesian National Police (Polri) between June 2020 and May 2021. Shootings were the most frequent type of violence perpetrated by the police.

There were 390 recorded cases of shootings by Polri personnel, representing 57.9% of the total acts of violence over the past year. These shootings resulted in at least 13 deaths and 98 injuries.

Furthermore, there were 75 cases of arbitrary arrests, 66 cases of assault, and 58 cases of forced dispersal by the police between June 2020 and May 2021.

Additionally, there were 36 cases of torture, 24 cases of intimidation, and 12 cases of wrongful arrest in the past year. Cases involving inhumane acts, sexual crimes, murder, and kidnapping committed by police numbered less than 10.

Of these violent acts, 399 occurred at the Resort Police (Polres) level, 135 at the Regional Police (Polda) level, and 117 at the Sector Police (Polsek) level.

In commemoration of the 75th National Police Day, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) reminded the police to exercise their authority, such as arrest and seizure, wisely. He emphasized that Indonesia is a democratic nation that upholds human rights (HAM).