Antara, Jakarta – Jakarta police have named 48 people as suspects in connection with violence and vandalism during a protest near Indonesia's parliament complex on Thursday, authorities said Friday.

Of those, 45 have been named suspects in cases involving property damage and assault, while three others face charges for carrying bladed weapons during the unrest.

Iman Imannudin, director of general criminal investigations at the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, said the suspects were identified based on evidence, witness statements and the results of police investigations.

"Based on the evidence and witness statements obtained during the investigation, we have named 45 people as suspects for vandalism and assault, and three as suspects for the misuse of bladed weapons," Iman said at a press conference in Jakarta, as quoted by Antara.

Police said they had divided people detained in connection with the unrest into six categories based on their alleged roles.

The first group consisted of 153 minors who were handed over to the police unit responsible for the protection of women and children for further examination and investigation.

The group included 25 school dropouts, two 12-year-olds, one 13-year-old, three 14-year-olds, 23 15-year-olds, 47 16-year-olds and 64 17-year-olds. Ten people were aged 18, according to police. Three members of the group were female.

The second category comprised 91 adults whom police described as ordinary rioters.

The third group consisted of 71 people suspected of damaging public facilities and assaulting people following the demonstration. Police said 45 of them had been formally named suspects.

The fourth category comprised three people who were allegedly found carrying bladed weapons during the unrest. All three have been named suspects.

Police are continuing to investigate two other groups. The fifth category involves people suspected of organizing or financing the unrest, while the sixth concerns individuals allegedly responsible for recruiting people to participate in violent acts.

Investigators are also examining allegations that children were used or exploited to carry out unlawful activities.

"This could potentially violate provisions of the Child Protection Law," Iman said.

Police said the alleged offenses under investigation include damaging public facilities, assault, group violence in public places, causing public disorder and carrying bladed weapons.

The investigation remains ongoing as police seek to establish the respective roles of those involved, including alleged organizers, financiers and recruiters.

Despite the arrests, police said they continued to respect the public's right to express their views through demonstrations.

Iman said public protests were permitted as long as they were conducted peacefully, responsibly and in an orderly manner, without damaging public property or endangering other people.

"Polda Metro Jaya will not tolerate acts that disrupt public order," he said, urging the public not to be easily provoked by unverified information or bring dangerous objects to demonstrations.

The arrests followed unrest that broke out after a large demonstration near the parliament complex in Jakarta on Thursday. The protest initially focused on demands including the passage of a long-delayed asset forfeiture bill and concerns over alleged corruption in the government's free nutritious meal program.

While the main demonstration ended peacefully, another group remained in the area and clashes later broke out with police. A police post and a motorcycle were set on fire, while public facilities and other infrastructure were damaged in several parts of Central Jakarta.

Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/jakarta-police-name-48-suspects-over-parliament-protest-unres