Indonesian lawmaker urges full probe into Pejompongan death during unrest

A member of Indonesia’s House of Representatives has urged police to investigate every level of responsibility in the death of a Pejompongan resident during unrest near Jakarta’s parliament complex.

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The police must uncover that information. Who are they, where did they come from, who mobilized them, what was their purpose, and did anyone give the orders? Do not stop with the people who carried out the violence in the field.

Abdullah, a member of Commission III, said the investigation into BS, 59, should proceed transparently to protect public trust. He said police should look beyond people who carried out violence in the street and determine who they were, where they came from, who mobilized them, what their purpose was and whether anyone issued orders.

He also said investigators could apply more serious criminal provisions if evidence supported them. Those involved in the alleged group assault could potentially face charges of premeditated murder, he said, but prosecutors would first have to establish whether the attack involved planning to take the victim’s life.

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Everyone involved in this group assault could potentially be charged with premeditated murder, but it must first be proven whether there was indeed an element of planning to take the victim’s life.

Abdullah called for all unidentified people involved to be arrested and processed under the law. If an organization was proven to have participated, he said, it should also face action under the relevant legislation. He warned that the state and government should not appear unable to maintain public order while violent groups effectively take over that role.

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Arrest all unidentified people involved in the crowd and process them according to the law. If an organization is proven to have been involved, it must of course be dealt with under the provisions of the law.

BS worked as a mirror seller in Pejompongan. His wife, Sudarsi, said he closed his business early on Thursday night, Aug. 27, after seeing crowds begin to gather. When the situation appeared safer, he left home to check the area but did not return by late night. The family learned where he was after receiving a video in the early hours of Friday, Aug. 28, and confirming that the person shown was BS.

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The state and government must not be seen as unable to maintain order and security, so that their basic duties and functions appear to have been replaced by people using thuggish violence.