Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – Indonesia's State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi clarified that President Prabowo Subianto never agreed to the formation of an independent investigation team to probe the riots that broke out in late August 2025.
Prasetyo denied claims from the National Conscience Movement (Gerakan Nurani Bangsa, or GNB), which said Prabowo had agreed to such independent team formation during their meeting on Thursday, September 11.
According to him, the president only told GNB representatives that the investigation process was already underway.
"We need to make it clear that the president never expressed any intention to form, nor did he approve, the establishment of an investigation team," Prasetyo said at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta on Friday, September 19, 2025.
The Gerindra Party politician added that the government respects the independent, non-judicial investigative team currently led by the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) and is giving it room to carry out its work.
"If the team faces obstacles, the government stands ready to provide assistance," he said.
Earlier, Coordinating Minister for Legal, Human Rights, Immigration, and Security Affairs Yusril Ihza Mahendra also conveyed that the president considered forming another team unnecessary.
"When asked whether a new team should be created, the president said it was not needed," Yusril said at the Presidential Palace Complex on Wednesday, September 17.
Yusril explained that while Prabowo had acknowledged GNB's proposal as "reasonable and worth considering," he later made clear that the ongoing investigation by Komnas HAM's independent team was sufficient.
On September 11, several scholars and clerics under GNB met with Prabowo at the Presidential Palace, where they presented a list of demands related to the August demonstrations. Amnesty International Indonesia member Lukman Hakim Saifuddin said one of the key demands was the immediate creation of an independent investigation team to probe the riots.
The unrest began on August 25, 2025, after the House of Representatives approved a controversial salary and allowance hike to Rp100 million amid nationwide budget cuts.
The protests escalated, culminating on August 28 when online motorcycle taxi driver Affan Kurniawan was fatally struck by a tactical police vehicle in Jakarta.
The incident sparked widespread anger and unrest across several regions. Protesters vandalized public facilities and attacked the homes of lawmakers. In total, 10 people were killed in the wave of demonstrations.
– Eka Yudha Saputra contributed to the writing of this article.