Amnesty International Indonesia opposes military's role in securing protests

Amnesty International Indonesia has voiced strong opposition to the involvement of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and civilian groups in securing recent demonstrations across the country. The human rights organization argues that maintaining public order during protests is fundamentally a task for the police, not the military.

Usman Hamid, Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, stated that police forces are the primary entities responsible for security during public demonstrations. He expressed concern over the deployment of military personnel and reserve components, alongside civilian groups, to manage protests that have occurred over the past week. This deployment, according to Amnesty, blurs the lines between civilian law enforcement and military roles.

The protests, some of which carried slogans like "Menuju Indonesia Bangkrut" (Towards Indonesia's Bankruptcy), saw students attempting to rally but being blocked by security forces, including the TNI and police, in Jakarta. Amnesty's criticism suggests that the military's presence may escalate tensions or infringe upon the rights of protesters.

This report also briefly touches upon two other significant news items from Indonesia: an earthquake measuring 6.7 magnitude that struck Central Sulawesi, prompting the evacuation of hospital patients, and a fact-check examining the claim that a weaker Indonesian rupiah is beneficial for the country's economic growth. These diverse topics reflect the range of pressing issues facing Indonesia.

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Maintaining security during public demonstrations falls primarily under the responsibility of the police.