Nabiila Azzahra, Jakarta – Indonesia's National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has found that 1,683 individuals were arrested by the police during the mass demonstrations in Jakarta from August 25 to 31, 2025. They were apprehended by the Jakarta Metro Police.
Komnas HAM arrived at this figure after conducting a direct review at the Jakarta South Metro Police Headquarters, together with the Deputy Director of General Crime Investigation of the Jakarta Metro Police. "During this meeting, it was obtained that the Jakarta Metro Police had apprehended and detained 1,683 individuals participating in the mass action on August 25, 28, 30, and 31, 2025," stated the Chairman of Komnas HAM, Anis Hidayah, in a written statement on Monday, September 1, 2025.
Anis conveyed that these numbers could still change at any time and did not include the number of individuals arrested at the police precincts (polres) under the Jakarta Metro Police jurisdiction. "The Jakarta Metro Police also stated that the data remains dynamic and only represents the data within the Jakarta Metro Police and not from the police precincts within the Jakarta Metro Police jurisdiction," he said.
While at the Jakarta South Metro Police Headquarters, Komnas HAM also encountered 19 individuals still awaiting clarification on the status of their family members who were detained by the police since Friday, August 29, 2025, evening.
The Commission then urged the Jakarta Metro Police to promptly release the detained protest participants and inform their families. The Jakarta Metro Police was also asked to act professionally, accountably, and transparently. "And to differentiate treatment between demonstrators and looters," stated Anis.
Additionally, Komnas HAM requested the Jakarta Metro Police to provide legal assistance access to the arrested individuals. "To provide legal assistance access for every individual arrested and detained," said Anis.
The numbers calculated by Komnas HAM differ from the count by the Jakarta Metro Police. The Head of Public Relations Division of the Jakarta Metro Police, Chief Commissioner (Kombes) Ade Ary Syam Indradi, stated that so far, 1,240 individuals have been apprehended during the demonstrations in the past week.
Throughout the demonstrations, the police also received nine criminal reports and have designated ten individuals as suspects. "Nine individuals have been detained, while one person is still at large," said Ade Ary.
Massive demonstrations have continued in various areas since Monday, August 25, 2025. Protests, initially against the amount of allowances for members of the People's Consultative Assembly, have turned into riots and looting in various regions of Indonesia.
At least nine individuals have died during the ongoing demonstrations, either due to police violence or unidentified masses. One of them is ride-hailing motorcycle driver Affan Kurniawan, who was killed when run over by a Tactical Vehicle Unit (rantis) of the Jakarta Metro Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) at Bendungan Hilir, Central Jakarta, on August 28, 2025. Affan's death sparked public outrage and ignited subsequent demonstrations.
– Dede Leni Mardianti contributed to the writing of this article.