Ivany Atina Arbi, Jakarta – A video showing a group of police officers beating an unarmed man near Al-Huda Mosque in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, has been circulating online in recent days, fueling allegations that police have used excessive force in handling the protest against the result of the April 17 presidential election.
The video was uploaded by supporters of losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto who have accused the police of brutality.
It shows what appears to be a group of antiriot police officers surrounding Al-Huda Mosque. They are then seen dragging a shirtless man and repeatedly beating him.
It is unclear when the footage was taken, but a Google Map search confirmed that the incident had taken place near Al-Huda Mosque on Jl. Kampung Bali in Tanah Abang. The landmark buildings and landscape of the site shown in the video match the images that show up on the digital map.
The Central Jakarta Police said they would investigate the video. "Thank you for the information. We will check [the video]," Central Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Harry Kurniawan told The Jakarta Post on Friday.
A rally held by Prabowo's supporters in Central Jakarta on Tuesday turned ugly after protesters tried to break through barricades and enter the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) office.
At least eight people were reportedly killed during ensuing riots. The police are still investigating the deaths but have reiterated that antiriot officers were not responsible as they did not carry live rounds, pointing instead to unknown parties who they believe are taking advantage of escalating tensions.