Nabiila Azzahra – The Jakarta Metropolitan Regional Police (Polda Metro Jaya) has apologized to Bayu Pratama, a photo journalist from the National News Agency Antara, who was assaulted by the police while covering a mass protest in front of the MPR/DPR/DPD Building, Central Jakarta, on Monday, August 25, 2025.
According to a written statement from Antara, the Head of Public Relations of the Jakarta Metro Police, Grand Commissioner Ade Ary Syam Indradi, visited the office of the National News Agency Antara after receiving news of Bayu's assault. Ade Ary came to clarify the incident.
Jakarta Metro Police has promised to investigate this journalist assault case and punish the perpetrator. "After the meeting, the police apologized for the incident and promised to investigate and punish the perpetrators. In addition, the police are committed to replacing the damaged reporting equipment as a result of the incident," Antara said in a written statement on Monday night.
The photo journalist, Bayu, was hit while taking pictures of the police dispersing demonstrators. He said a police officer hit him several times with a baton. "Even though I was carrying two cameras and wearing an ID Card," said Bayu on Monday, August 25, 2025, as quoted by Antara.
Bayu managed to block the police's attack using his hand. However, the blow struck the camera he was using to cover the commotion during the demonstration. Bayu's camera was eventually damaged. "The camera died from the blow. My left hand was also scratched," he said.
Bayu regretted the repressive behavior of the police. This attitude, he said, makes the security forces unable to distinguish between journalists and demonstrators.
Since Monday morning, thousands of demonstrators protested in front of the DPR building. The demonstration continued until late at night. The police forcibly dispersed the protesters in front of the DPR building. The mass then moved to the back door of the DPR building.
The August 25 demonstration began with a call on social media. The call for action was led by a movement calling itself the "Indonesian People's Revolution." They urged the public, workers, farmers, and students to take to the streets. The invitation was spread anonymously.
They demanded an investigation into the alleged corruption case of former President Joko Widodo's family and the impeachment of Gibran Rakabuming Raka as vice president. "Continuously pressuring the DPR to carry out its duties as a government control," according to the message received by Tempo on Friday, August 22, 2025.
The message sender also invited the public to pay attention to other issues, such as tax increases, the polemic of state debt, and the disparity in welfare between members of the DPR and the public.
– Sultan Abdurrahman and Andi Adam Faturahman contributed to the writing of this article.