Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – The Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) reported that the Jakarta Metro Police have yet to release the demonstrators arrested during the International Labor Day protest in front of the House of Representatives Building on Thursday, May 1, 2025, despite completing the examination process.
"Up to now, the May Day 2025 demonstrators who were arrested in Jakarta have not been released by the police," LBH Jakarta stated in an official announcement on Friday, May 2, 2025.
Yulianto Behar Nggali Mara, a representative from the Advocacy Team for Democracy (TAUD), confirmed that 13 demonstrators are still being held at the Jakarta Metro Police, with no release despite the completion of the necessary procedures.
"The investigator's statement (regarding the certainty of their release) is still awaiting the leadership's decision. There has been no confirmation," he told Tempo at the Directorate of General Crime Investigation of the Jakarta Metro Police on Friday, May 2, 2025.
Jakarta Metro Police Public Relations Head, Commissioner Ade Ary Syam Indradi, mentioned that further investigations are ongoing.
"Since last night, our colleagues from the Sub Directorate of State Security of the Jakarta Metro Police have been conducting further investigation," Ade stated in a press briefing on Friday, May 2, 2025.
The police had earlier detained 13 demonstrators during the chaotic 2025 International Labor Day protest in front of the House Building. Ade described the arrested individuals as infiltrators who had provoked other protesters.
"These suspected infiltrators are from an anarchist group," Ade said.
The protest turned violent when participants threw objects at the police, prompting a response with water cannons. The situation escalated with the crowd continuing to hurl objects and fireworks at the authorities, leading to multiple arrests.
– Ade Ridwan Yandwiputra contributed to the writing of this article.