Hanin Marwah, Jakarta – Indonesia's National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has raised concerns over the assault of two residents during unrest that followed a protest on August 27, 2026.
Komnas HAM Commissioner Saurlin P. Siagian urged police to investigate alleged involvement by a mass organization in the incident, which left one person dead.
"We are asking the Jakarta Metro Police to conduct a deeper investigation," Saurlin told reporters at the National Police Headquarters in South Jakarta on Monday, August 31, 2026.
Saurlin said Komnas HAM had previously met with the Jakarta Metro Police and urged authorities to further investigate the unrest that followed the protest. The commission is looking into the death of Pejompongan resident Bambang Setiawan and the assault of an 18-year-old high school student, Faturrohman.
"Those who were not involved in the unrest should be released. But those who were involved, I think, also need to be followed up," he said.
Two Pejompongan residents targeted
Two residents of Pejompongan, Central Jakarta, were among those affected by the unrest that broke out from Thursday night into the early hours of Friday following the August 27 protest.
Bambang Setiawan, a 60-year-old resident and mirror vendor, died after being attacked by a group of people as he attempted to close his shop.
Faturrohman, 18, suffered serious injuries after being assaulted by several people allegedly affiliated with a mass organization.
Social media users have accused Gerakan Rakyat Indonesia Bersatu (GRIB) Jaya, a mass organization led by Rosario de Marshall, better known as Hercules, of involvement in the attack.
The allegations emerged after videos circulated showing Hercules at the scene of the unrest with members of his organization. GRIB Jaya has denied the allegations.
Wilson Colling, head of the legal division of GRIB Jaya's central leadership, said Hercules was at the scene to monitor the security situation rather than participate in the protest that turned violent.
"His presence was part of a persuasive effort to monitor the situation and maintain calm in the area, not to escalate tensions, provoke anyone or engage in physical clashes," Wilson said in a written statement on Saturday, August 29.
Police investigate alleged mass organization involvement
Jakarta Metro Police spokesperson Commissioner Budi Hermanto said police were still investigating the alleged involvement of a mass organization in the incident.
"As for the mass organization, we are still conducting a deeper investigation because the facts need to be verified. We ask for time," Budi told reporters on August 27.
Budi also urged the public not to immediately believe information circulating on social media. He said police had identified numerous posts containing disinformation, provocation and hoaxes related to the unrest.
Komnas HAM's call for further investigation comes as authorities continue to establish what happened during the unrest and determine the responsibility of those involved in the attacks.
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2118626/police-urged-to-probe-mass-organizations-role-in-jakarta-unres