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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Crime & Justice

Police Arrest Two Demonstrators Suspected of Carrying Molotov Cocktails

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • Police in Jakarta arrested two demonstrators suspected of carrying Molotov cocktails during a protest.
  • The protest, organized by students under the banner "Towards Indonesia Bankrupt," voiced several demands against the government.
  • Authorities are investigating whether the arrested individuals were part of the student group or attempting to disrupt the protest.

Jakarta police apprehended two individuals suspected of carrying Molotov cocktails during a student-led demonstration on Friday, June 12, 2026. The arrests occurred near the Bendungan Hilir area in Central Jakarta, as part of a protest themed "Towards Indonesia Bankrupt."

This is still being investigated.

— Budi HermantoHead of Public Relations for the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, commenting on the arrest of two demonstrators.

According to Kombes Budi Hermanto, Head of Public Relations for the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, the arrests followed a sweep and profiling of individuals near the protest site. Police identified several people attempting to hijack the students' expression of grievances. The police are currently investigating whether the two arrested individuals were affiliated with the student protesters or were acting independently to instigate trouble.

The demonstration saw hundreds of students and members of the public gather in the Sudirman area, continuing until approximately 10:00 PM Western Indonesian Time. Protesters were blocked by authorities from reaching the Hotel Indonesia roundabout.

Officers identified several people attempting to hijack the students' expression of grievances.

— Budi HermantoExplaining the police's actions leading to the arrests.

Key demands presented by the protesters included halting the wasteful spending of the state budget, lowering the prices of essential goods and fuel, and ceasing the Free Nutritious Meal Program and the Red and White Village Cooperative development. They also called for an end to militarism in civilian spheres and urged President Prabowo Subianto to acknowledge government kesalahan (mistakes).

Stop militarism in civilian spheres, and finally Prabowo stop evading and admit the government's mistakes.

— Yatalathof Ma'shum ImawanChairman of the Executive Board of Students of the University of Indonesia (BEM UI), stating one of the protest demands.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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