Iyen stood motionless on the busy streets of Cihampelas, Bandung, on Friday, September 10, 2025.
Her eyes were teary; both hands held high a poster showing a young man with a battered face. That was the face of her biological son, Very Kurnia alias Ei (24), the eldest of four siblings.
Very, or Ei, worked as a water delivery man and parking attendant to support his family. He had been detained at the West Java Regional Police Headquarters since August 30, 2025. Ei was named a suspect for something he did not do: participating in a demonstration and being accused of rioting.
Accompanying Iyen were her husband, Tatang, and Ei’s two younger sisters, who stood silently crying behind the poster. Meanwhile, Ei’s uncle, Ebi, held the microphone and spoke about the injustice his nephew had experienced.
Not only Ei’s family, but also a solidarity group consisting of residents of RW 05 Cihampelas, legal advocates, and other civil society members raised posters in the afternoon after the rain in Bandung. They held a solidarity action to protest the arbitrary arrests by the police after the August 2025 protests in Bandung, as experienced by Ei. They also protested the alleged violence and torture of the detainees.
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Very Kurnia, or Ei, is one of the victims of wrongful arrest who is currently being charged as a suspect in the riots during the protest at the West Java Regional Parliament Building on August 29-30, 2025. His intention to take a break by hanging out on Saturday, August 30. It turned into a nightmare when he was held at gunpoint and forcibly taken to the West Java Regional Police Headquarters (Polda Jabar).
Along with many others—reportedly hundreds, some of whom were minors and have since been released—Ei was accused of participating in the protest that ended in chaos. In fact, he was forced to confess to being involved in the protest since August 29. In fact, on that day, he was working as a parking attendant with his uncle, far from the scene of the incident. Not only Ei, but 42 people are still being detained and named as suspects by Polda Jabar on charges of “rioting and provocation,” and labeled as “anarchists.”
The arbitrary and indiscriminate arrests following the August protests did not only occur in Bandung. In many other cities, including Surabaya, a similar pattern emerged. Mass protests since August 29 have led to police chases and mass arrests. Reports from legal aid networks indicate that some of those arrested were detained without a warrant and subjected to physical violence during interrogation. Some were forced to confess to being “provocateurs,” while others were intimidated into remaining silent.
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This phenomenon not only reflects a pattern of recurring violence, but also shows that the state still relies on a repressive approach in responding to public expression. Arbitrary arrests and allegations of torture are part of a long chain of impunity that is difficult to break. In the context of a democracy that should guarantee freedom of expression and assembly, this practice raises serious questions. Are citizens’ civil rights now once again being treated as a threat to order, rather than as part of civic life?
Human rights activists assess that this wave of arrests following the protests marks a serious setback in law enforcement in Indonesia. LBH, KontraS, and a number of other civil society organizations have noted a pattern similar to previous years. However, the modus is now more ‘neat’ and the violence is more hidden. Preliminary reports indicate that some victims suffered physical injuries and psychological trauma. Meanwhile, the police have denied allegations of torture, citing “enforcement of discipline for violations of the law.”
Amidst news of arrests and temporary disappearances, public solidarity has emerged. Fundraising for legal aid, calls on social media with the hashtag #BebaskanKawanKami (Free Our Friends), and silent protests in various cities. However, behind this solidarity lies a growing fear that anyone can now be targeted simply for choosing to speak out.
In the simple homes of the city’s corners, the families of those arrested wait anxiously for news. Meanwhile, access to legal assistance and the fulfillment of their family members’ rights are restricted under the pretext of “internal police procedures.”
In Bandung, West Java, Random Arrests and Allegations of Torture
A week before the solidarity action in support of Very Kurnia, alias Ei, occurred, Konde.co visited his family’s home in Cihampelas, Bandung, West Java. It was Thursday, October 2, 2025, four days after the family held a press conference regarding the kidnapping and torture of their eldest son in August. Ei’s father, Tatang, and his uncle, Ebi, had just returned from visiting the young man at the West Java Police Headquarters.
Ei’s younger brother, Ipan, explained that on Saturday, August 30, 2025, in the afternoon, they were at home. Ipan was brewing coffee in the back of the house, while Ei was sitting watching television in the front room. His younger brother thought Ei would be working at the parking lot that night. Apparently, his older brother was going out with his friends in Dipatiukur.
Knowing this, Ipan felt relieved. He had heard that protests were raging in Bandung over the past few days. He also knew that demonstrations were still ongoing that day. But then he thought, at least Ei was safe with his friends.
That sense of relief did not last long. At 11 p.m., his friends had already returned to their meeting point at a supermarket in the Cihampelas area. However, Ei was not with them.
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They tried calling Ei’s phone repeatedly, but it was inactive. The date changed to August 31; around 1 a.m., his cell phone was detected as active again. Ipan and Ebi tried to contact Ei again by phone and managed to get through, but the voice that answered the phone was not that of a family member. The answer on the other end of the line was short, abrupt, and rude in Sundanese.
“Naon anj*ng, sia rek ka dieu? Sok, ku aing tungguan [What the hell, you want to come here? Go ahead, I’ll wait],” Ebi repeated the curse uttered by the owner of the voice on Ei’s cell phone at that time.
Before they could react, the call was disconnected and the phone was no longer active. The next attempt to connect was still answered with the same high-pitched voice and curse. This time, Ebi immediately asked a question.
“Who are you? I only need to talk to the person concerned. Give this phone to Ei. Where is Ei? I want to talk to Ei.”
Ebi suspected that Ei’s phone was set to loudspeaker mode at that moment, so he knew who was calling. Finally, his nephew’s voice was heard, answering briefly before the call was disconnected again.
“Yes, A’ (Ebi), I’m at the Police Headquarters [Yes, A’, I’m at the Police Headquarters].”
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That answer was more than enough for Ebi, Ipan, and their friends to rush to the West Java Regional Police Headquarters. Their goal at that time was simply to confirm with the Criminal Investigation Unit that Ei was indeed there.
They arrived around 2 a.m. The investigators confirmed that Ei was indeed there. However, they were unable to meet with their family member because Ei was reportedly still undergoing questioning.
The police officers at the time said that Ei could be taken home the next day. Ebi said that the officer told them that his nephew had only been arrested during a mass demonstration. “(Ei can go home) as long as someone from the family picks him up tomorrow. So now, just go home,” Ipan imitated what the officer had said to them that night. So the uncle and younger brother were asked to return to the police headquarters in the morning.
At that time, the two decided not to tell Iyen and Tatang—their parents—about Ei’s situation. In addition to protecting their feelings, the statement that Ei would be released the next day was a source of comfort. Ebi and Ipan came back to the West Java Regional Police Headquarters on Sunday, August 31, 2025, at around 9 a.m. According to the younger brother’s testimony, at that time there were already many families and guardians who were waiting to pick up their relatives there.
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The people who were arrested after the previous night’s action were released in batches, starting at 12 noon. The first batch was minors. This was followed by the next batches, which were described as “not proven to be carrying ‘evidence’.” By 3 p.m., some of the detainees had been released. However, Ei was still nowhere to be seen.
“I waited… From 9 a.m. I waited until—if I’m not mistaken, the last group was at 11 p.m.,” said Ipan. “I waited from morning until 11 p.m., so the last group.”
As the day drew to a close, his brother had still not been released. The younger brother was increasingly surprised and anxious. Where was A Ei? In fact, when PBHI West Java opened a report center for missing persons and arrests, Ei’s family was one of the first to register their eldest son.
“Indeed, (Ei) has been accompanied (by a lawyer). But he said that… If I’m not mistaken, the six (people) who are still being questioned will be in the last group,” he continued. He was initially convinced by this claim because his brother’s name was on the list of those undergoing questioning in the last group at 11 p.m. However, his confidence wavered when it was past 11 p.m. and Ei still hadn’t been released.
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Everything was unclear while Ebi and Ipan’s wait at the West Java Regional Police Headquarters from the morning of August 31 to the early hours of September 1. There was no transparency or explanation whatsoever regarding the location of Ei’s arrest or his condition, the procedures that should have been followed and those that were not, and so on.
“So I asked again. I had already asked several times. Maybe it was the umpteenth time I had asked the investigation team,” Ipan explained bitterly. Once again, the investigator argued that Ei was “still under investigation.”
“Then I asked firmly, ‘Yes, do you mean he can be released today, sir?’ My brother was arrested at 9 p.m. (on August 30).” He retorted to the officer, “Then why were the people who were arrested (on August 31) at 3 or 4 in the morning released? Meanwhile, my brother, who was arrested in the first batch, has not been released?”
The investigator’s response to Ipan and Ebi remained stagnant, like a repeating automated bot: “The investigation is still ongoing.” Not wanting to go home without Ei, they insisted on waiting at the West Java Regional Police Headquarters until Monday, September 1, 2025, at 3 a.m. However, even after waiting and Ipan’s final firm question to the officer, there was still no clarity regarding Ei’s fate and his release.
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Instead, Ipan quoted the officer’s final response that day: “Even if he were released now, it’s already late, young man. You might as well go home.” Ipan and Ebi returned home after being promised further updates from the police via the phone number they had provided.
After three days of uncertainty about Ei’s fate, the family finally managed to meet him with the help of a legal team. On Monday, September 1, 2025, Ebi, Ei’s uncle, was allowed to see his nephew at the West Java Regional Police Headquarters. At that time, only Ebi and a representative of another prisoner’s family came to the police headquarters and were allowed to visit.
However, they were not immediately reunited. Around 10-11 a.m., Ebi saw Ei again when his nephew was lined up with nine other detainees. Ebi witnessed that Ei was not yet wearing prison clothes. He was still wearing the same clothes he had on when he was forcibly taken by the police. According to the officers, the prisoners were to have their health checked first at the Narcotics Investigation Unit. The meeting only took place after the break was over. “Around 1 p.m. on the 3rd floor of the Criminal Investigation Unit building, room 5,” explained Ebi.
That moment was the first time Ebi had come face to face with Ei at close range. Ebi found his nephew’s face battered; his right temple was bruised, and there were two purple circles right in the middle of the right and left sides of Ei’s head. Ebi continued, “His white eyelids were covered in blood.”
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His uncle also noticed the way Ei answered his questions there. “Every time Ei answered, it entered my ears in a soft, slow tone, and he whispered directly. And he definitely used sign language. So it wasn’t ‘normal’ (like talking in general).”
Ebi asked four questions and, before that, asked Ei to answer as honestly as possible, without minimizing or exaggerating.
Ebi’s first question: “Try to explain the chronology of your arrest. Where, what time, and how long were you at the police headquarters?”
Ei then recounted the events that had befallen him. When he was kidnapped and forcibly taken away by ununiformed officers, he was on his way to hang out with his friends. It was unfortunate that he was in the vicinity of the Graha Merah Putih Telkomsel parking lot, which was a red zone for protests on Saturday (8/30) at 9-10 p.m. On the other hand, the building was actually quite far from the Regional Parliament Building, which was the main protest site.
“I had just bought three cigarettes. But when I turned around, someone dressed like a thug pointed a gun at me. I don’t know if it was a police officer or someone else,” Ei explained to Ebi on Monday, September 1, 2025. Ei was immediately terrified; he lay down as ordered and was beaten on the spot.
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Ebi’s second question was about whether Ei had brought anything that could serve as physical evidence or non-physical evidence related to the demonstration. For example, a block of wood, a stone, a Molotov cocktail, a flag, or something similar. Or non-physical evidence such as photos, videos, chat messages urging people to join the protest, and so on.
“Nothing, A’,” replied Ei.
The third question was about the medical test that Ei underwent that morning, before Ebi and Ei met. “(The drug test) result, was it negative or positive?” asked Ebi. “Negative, sir,” replied Ei. He also emphasized that he did not carry any narcotics. When leaving home on Saturday (August 30), Ei only brought his wallet and cell phone. Although his cell phone was already in the hands of the police after his arrest, he was still able to keep his wallet.
Ebi then asked the final question in a raised voice, in front of the police officers in the room. What else is complicating Ei’s situation to this day. So that Ebi’s nephew has not been released despite being at the West Java Police Headquarters since August 30?
“So, A’…” whispered Ei. “I was beaten continuously. From the moment I was arrested, during the trip to Gedung Sate, and then the trip to the police headquarters. Even when I arrived at the police headquarters, I was still tortured.”
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“Where exactly you tortured the worst, Ei?”
“When I entered the police headquarters, A’, in the middle building. But I can’t be sure which building it was.”
Ei went on to say that he was beaten there, even electrocuted multiple times. The violence continued when he arrived at the guard post and then in a room that Ebi referred to as the ‘aquarium’ or interrogation room. Ebi concluded this part from Ei’s fingers pointing to the room as he described the torture he had experienced.
“I couldn’t take it anymore, A’, I was beaten continuously, I was electrocuted. So I agreed to the questions the police asked me,” said Ei bitterly. “Rather than continuing to deny (and being subjected to violence), I agreed. So the police stopped beating me.”
What was most confusing for Ebi and Ei themselves was that the young man was forced to admit that he had participated in the demonstration on Friday, August 29, 2025. Yet he was arrested the next day.
“But Ei, on Friday, you were working as a parking attendant with me, right?” said Ebi, which Ei agreed to. Indeed, in addition to delivering gallons of water every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the young man sometimes accompanied his uncle as a parking attendant at night from around 8 to 9 p.m. This included that Friday, when the protest at the West Java Regional Parliament Building ended in chaos.
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Ebi’s four questions had been answered. He excused himself and intended to take his nephew home. However, the officer did not allow it and told him to wait. The officer said there was a letter that had to be signed and taken to his parents or family. While waiting, Ebi observed his surroundings. He saw a room that he later learned was the Head of Unit’s (Kanit) office. In that room, his eyes fell on many chunks of stone and Molotov cocktails scattered on the floor.
Ebi felt he had to reassure himself that Ei was not guilty and had not been framed. He asked his nephew across from him again.
“Ei, do you still remember that when you came home or were arrested and brought here to the police headquarters, you came empty-handed?”
Ei replied, “Yes.” He added that there were a total of 8 people arrested with him when they arrived at the West Java Police Headquarters.
“Do you remember that these eight people—including you—came here empty-handed? Before or when you entered here, into this room.”
“Yes, everyone came with empty hands.”
“Whose molotov cocktails and stones were those?”
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“I don’t know, A’. Even before we entered, those stones and Molotov cocktails were already in that room.”
With unstable emotions, Ebi finally left the West Java Regional Police Headquarters with a letter. Apparently, it was an arrest warrant listing the charges against Ei. This letter should have been shown to Ei before he was arrested, if he was indeed guilty.
Only then did Iyen and Tatang receive information that their eldest child had been forcibly taken by the police since August 30, 2025. Iyen herself was only able to meet Ei at the West Java Regional Police Headquarters on Tuesday afternoon, September 2, 2025. Just like Ebi, the mother saw her eldest child in front of her with both eyes bruised and her right temple covered with a bandage.
“Then I asked Very, ‘A’, was the torture only on that night (August 30)?'” Iyen told Konde.co on October 2, 2025. Ei replied in a whisper, “Mom, don’t make a fuss. If until today, Aa is still being beaten [I am still being slapped]. Still being kicked.”
A mother’s instinct made Iyen reflexively apologize to Ei for coming empty-handed. She could only ask Ei to stay strong and pray.
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Iyen said to Ei at that time, “A’, Aa, don’t feel alone. You rarely come here, Mama is fighting outside, fighting for Ei. If Ei is accompanied by a legal institution from here, then Ei must be willing. [A’, Aa, don’t feel alone. You rarely come here, Mama is fighting outside, fighting for Ei. If Ei is accompanied by a legal institution from here (Bandung Melawan Advocacy Team), then Ei must be willing.]”
Iyen also pleaded with the police to release her son immediately. The reason was that Very was a victim of wrongful arrest and the breadwinner of the family. According to Iyen, at that time they said they could not help with Ei’s release, but suggested that Iyen write a letter requesting a family-based suspension.
Since then, from early September until this news was published, Ei’s family felt that the police were playing games with them. Iyen repeatedly pleaded and asked the police chief and investigators for clarity on Ei’s status and the possibility of his release. But the answer was always, “There is no order yet.” They were asked to wait 20 days on September 2, but to this day Ei has not been released.
“There’s nothing (no letter or news about Ei’s release) until now,” Iyen lamented.
Nevertheless, they still tried to submit a statement of suspension on Saturday, September 6, 2025, accompanied by the Bandung Melawan Advocacy Team. There, Ebi found something strange. A conversation with the chief investigator revealed that Ei allegedly had two stones as evidence. This contradicted Ei’s own statement that he had not brought anything other than his wallet and cell phone. Furthermore, regardless of Ei’s involvement in the action, his arrest did not follow the proper procedures.
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On Tuesday, September 30, 2025, Ebi, along with Iyen, Tatang, Ei’s relatives, and a legal team, visited the West Java Regional Police Headquarters again. Their goal was the same as that of the solidarity groups for victims of kidnapping and forced removal in Surabaya, Makassar, Jakarta, and other cities in Indonesia. They wanted to request a handwritten statement from Ei himself. In addition to confirming Ei’s version of events, this was also to declare the young man’s ignorance of the two stones that were suddenly used as evidence against him.
According to Ebi, they wanted Ei to write down the complete chronology, including the violence and torture he had experienced. They also requested legal assistance and a personal letter for his parents and family. Similar actions had been taken previously by Delpedro Marhaen, Syahdan Husein, Sam Omar, Laras Faizati, and other political prisoners in various regions. Therefore, Ei’s family was convinced that their family member also had the right to write a letter.
However, on that day, their hopes were dashed again. Although they had brought paper and writing materials for Ei, the North Jakarta Detention Center officers told the family and legal counsel to “get a voucher” first in order to be allowed to give Ei the writing materials. The family and legal counsel continued to try, despite being repeatedly thwarted, until the time of writing.
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Then on Thursday, October 2, 2025—the same day Konde.co visited Ei’s family home—Tatang and Ebi stopped by the West Java Regional Police Headquarters again. Ei’s new discovery that day was that he did not know his cell phone had been active on Saturday, September 6, 2025. Ebi said that the online chat on Ei’s cell phone that day invited someone to meet on Dipatiukur Street. Meanwhile, the cell phone was no longer in his possession since it had been taken from him by force.
Another inconsistency was Ei’s statements during several meetings with family members. Ebi only realized that day that the things his nephew had said when he met him, his parents, and other relatives had begun to differ. Then, on October 2, Ei told Ebi that a few days earlier—after his mother, Iyen, had returned from visiting him—the young man had been summoned again by officers to make and sign a new investigation report (BAP).
Ebi also met with the head of the unit (kanit) and his deputy. The kanit said that Ei had admitted his guilt. He was also treated well and held accountable at the Polda. “He was given food, cigarettes, and even advice or teachings directly in front of the kanit,” Ebi quoted the officer as saying at the time.
Then, a statement from the unit head made Ebi wary. It sounded subtle, but he himself interpreted it as a threat to Ei and his family.
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“Brother, after you leave here, don’t let any news incite people outside. We are worried that it will directly affect Ei, his parents, his family—including you.”
The statement was made by the head of the unit after news of Ei’s torture spread widely. After a press conference by the family on September 30, 2025, many media outlets reported on Ei as a victim of wrongful arrest. Social media users were outraged, posting tweets demanding justice for Ei and other political prisoners following the August Grey period in Bandung and other cities. This was compounded by reports that Ei and a number of other victims of arrest had been subjected to violence by the authorities.
Meanwhile, Ei’s family had already visited the West Java Representative Ombudsman on Wednesday, September 24, 2025. They filed a report regarding the wrongful arrest and alleged torture experienced by their child. According to Deti Sopandi from the Bandung Melawan Advocacy Team, the report to the West Java Representative Ombudsman was intended to examine the procedure for Ei’s arrest.
On the other hand, through an office release on September 25, 2025, the West Java Regional Police immediately denied the Bandung Against Advocacy Team’s statements regarding torture and arbitrary arrests. The police claimed that they had provided “protection of rights” and a “transparent legal process” for the detainees after the action in Bandung.
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“What the Bandung advocacy team said is not true. So when they were detained at the police station, we gave them access to their legal counsel from the initial investigation. During the investigation, we treated them well and we done it with standard operating procedures,” said West Java Regional Police Head of Public Relations, Senior Commissioner Hendra Rochmawan, in the broadcast.
“The claims that they were subjected to abuse while in police custody are unfounded. We assure you that this can be directly confirmed with their lawyers.”
The West Java Police Department also issued another denial of legal misconduct against Very Kurnia on Friday, October 3, 2025, through an official press release. In the press release, West Java Police Public Relations Head, Senior Commissioner Hendra Rochmawan, said that Ei was forcibly arrested on Saturday (8/30/2025) based on police report number: LP/A/10/VIII/SPKT/Ditreskrimum/Polda Jabar.
The West Java Regional Police said that the results of the investigation showed that Ei participated in the demonstration and threw objects at security officers at the West Java DPRD building, guard posts, and police vehicles. Hendra explained that on the night before the arrest, the young man threw objects at around 7:30 p.m. using broken sidewalk stones.
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“From the initial investigation, it was found that a criminal act (committed by Very) had occurred. Therefore, on August 31, 2025, investigators held a case hearing,” said Hendra on Friday, October 3, 2025.
The wrongful arrest of Ei deeply affected his parents and siblings. This is because Ei and his younger brother are the breadwinners of the family, especially after their father, Tatang, grew old and retired. Every day, Ei, now 24 years old, works as a delivery man for refillable water gallons and a parking attendant.
“His daily income is around 70,000 rupiah, give or take,” said Tatang. That income has been sustaining their family.
During the conversation with other family members, Ei’s younger sister, P, sat quietly in the corner of the living room, tears streaming down her face. After her brother was forcibly taken away, she burst into tears.
“Ei was always at home…” said Ei’s younger sister, stammering between sobs.
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“I felt closest to (Ei). I always talked about everything with my brother, with Ei. Now it’s like he’s gone… She used to ask for pocket money, even though it wasn‘t much, (Ei) always made sure there was money for Mom, Dad, and her younger siblings.”
Ei’s younger sister continued, saying how quiet the house felt now without the eldest child. Usually, Ei was at home to help the family and chat with his younger siblings. Now, the house had lost the laughter that Ei used to bring to the family. P felt a sense of loss, especially because Ei was a brother who was very close to her.
The situation Ei faced also affected his parents. Ebi said that while visiting the police headquarters and attending the press conference on September 30, Iyen and Tatang forgot to eat.
“You took our child, you beat our child. Then we, the parents who were at home, became sick. Don’t you want to take responsibility?” she said.
Very Kurnia’s (Ei) case is now being assisted by the Bandung Melawan Advocacy Team, including PBHI West Java. According to Deti Sopandi from PBHI West Java and the Bandung Melawan Advocacy Team, Ei’s family’s testimony regarding their child’s arrest convinced the legal team. In addition, there were statements regarding the alleged torture of the wrongfully arrested victim.
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“So at that time, we decided to assist him with the Bandung Melawan Advocacy Team,” Deti told Konde.co on Thursday, October 2, 2025.
In addition to assisting Ei, the Bandung Melawan Advocacy Team is currently also working to strengthen the family’s position. They are also filing reports with several institutions, including the West Java Ombudsman, the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), the National Commission on Women (Komnas Perempuan), and the Legal Aid Institute (LPSK).
“Why are we filing reports with the West Java Ombudsman? To test whether the actions taken by the West Java Regional Police are in accordance with the regulations.”
Since August 29, the West Java Legal Aid Institute (PBHI) has established a complaint and legal aid post for mass actions taking place in Bandung and West Java. At that time, protests broke out in almost all cities in Indonesia following the death of Affan Kurniawan, an ojol driver who was run over by a police armored vehicle in Jakarta on Thursday, August 28, 2025. In addition to Affan’s death, various government policies that are not in the people’s interest and benefit the regime have fuelled public anger.
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“There have been approximately 60 complaints submitted to us (since August 29),” Deti explained to Konde.co on Thursday, October 2, 2025. Deti acknowledged that the number could be much higher. There is a lot of misinformation circulating on social media about arrests and violence, while those who have been arrested may find it difficult to reach the legal aid post.
The types of reports received by PBHI Jabar vary. There are people whose whereabouts are unknown, who have lost contact, who are suspected of being detained at the West Java Regional Police Headquarters, and so on. In response to the reports received, they conducted confirmations and sent a letter to the West Java Regional Police Criminal Investigation Unit on September 1, 2025. However, at that time, they were instead expelled.
“We only asked about the whereabouts of the protesters or people who were allegedly wrongfully arrested. But they did not provide any confirmation either. So we reported it to Propam, Irwasda, and then to the West Java Regional Police Chief.”
More than 30 days later, when Deti gave a statement to Konde.co and this news was published, PBHI West Java and the Bandung Melawan Advocacy Team still had not received a response. As a result, they had difficulty confirming the number of people who had been arrested since the beginning of the action.
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“From the complaints we received at the complaint center, there were also minors. But they have been released,” explained Deti. “However, we observed that from the beginning of the arrests, there was a situation where the people (who were arrested) were taped up. Some were using bandages, some had injuries. In addition, there were also those who complained of torture, but were not yet willing to speak up.”
She continued that the arrests were random. Several complaints received claimed that they were arrested and beaten while hanging out or playing outside. Some were eventually released , although some were named as suspects despite being wrongfully arrested, such as Very.
According to Deti, the protests in Bandung began on the afternoon of August 29. The situation escalated towards evening, and at that point the police had already resorted to repressive measures such as firing tear gas. “In our opinion, this was an excessive response to the protesters.”
Very Kurnia’s family was the first to dare to expose the wrongful arrest and alleged torture by the police after the August Grey in Bandung. Now, Deti and the Bandung Melawan Advocacy Team hope that other victims of arrest and their families will become more courageous and not feel alone in speaking out about the truth of what happened to them.
“The hope is that if there are people with the same fate as Very, they can do the same to reveal the truth,” said Deti. “To demand their rights and fight together. Because if we fight, we can be better and stronger together.”
In Surabaya and East Java, Police Hunt Down and Criminalize 865 People, Numbers Continue to Rise
From Bandung to Surabaya, civil society faces a similar situation. The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) in Surabaya recorded that 865 people were arrested by the police after demonstrations and riots in August 2025.
The hunt and arrests, accompanied by violence, intimidation, and sexual harassment, are suspected to be continuing to this day. Activists believe that the police are not touching the main actors, who are suspected to be from the military. Instead, they are looking for scapegoats and making arbitrary arrests.
Fatkhul Khoir, the Advocacy Division Coordinator of KontraS Surabaya, said that the report of 865 arrests came from police in eight cities and regencies in East Java as of September 15, 2025.
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KontraS’ independent monitoring recorded arrests taking place in Surabaya, Blitar City, Kediri Regency and City, Madiun City, Malang City, Sidoarjo, and Jember, from August 29 to September 15, 2025.
Records from public complaints and direct monitoring in the field found that 865 people were arrested. 657 of them have been released and 209 have been named as suspects. Among them are 79 children. The Kediri Police are said to have made the highest number of arrests, reaching 69.1 percent.
“This number could continue to increase. Most recently, four people were detained at the Surabaya Police Headquarters,” said the activist. Often referred to as Juir, to Konde on Monday, October 13, 2025.
Of the 79 children designated as suspects, they have been released but are subject to mandatory reporting requirements. However, 48 children remain detained and are undergoing legal proceedings. This is occurring in Surabaya, as well as the city and regency of Kediri.
Data from residents who were arrested and detained revealed acts of violence committed by the police. These acts included brutal beatings, sexual abuse, and forced shaving. “The victims who experienced sexual abuse have been released,” said Juir.
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The police also applied criminalization in the form of multiple charges, including medium and heavy criminal offenses.
YLBHI and LBH Surabaya added that there were also restrictions on access to legal aid, as well as actions that led to malicious investigations, which were carried out by the police against people who were vocal about the poor state of the country.
| Application of Multiple Charges |
| Article 212 of the Criminal Code (Violent Resistance Against Officials) |
| Article 406 of the Criminal Code (Destruction of Property) |
| Articles 362 & 363 of the Criminal Code (Theft and aggravated theft) a. Article 362 (Ordinary theft): Imprisonment for a maximum of 5 years b. Article 363 (Aggravated theft/curat): |
| Article 160 of the Criminal Code (Incitement) |
| Article 170 of the Criminal Code (Public Violence Committed in Concert) |
| Article 187 of the Criminal Code (Arson) |
| Article 214 of the Criminal Code (Joint Resistance Against Officials) |
Deputy Head of LBH Surabaya Daniel Siagian said that the Kediri City Police arrested Ahmad Faiz Yusuf or Faiz, a student at Madrasah Aliyah Plus Manba’ul Adhim Bagbogo, Tanjung Anom, Nganjuk, and Muhammad Fakhrurrozi (Paul) was arrested by the East Java Regional Police at their respective residences. After intensive questioning, the police named them as suspects in the August 30 riots in Kediri. However, neither of them was at the scene and neither had any involvement with other criminal suspects in the same case.
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Daniel said that Faiz experienced physical and psychological terror and intimidation because investigators forced them to confess to things they never did. These students were also prohibited from reading books while in police custody. “The police even confiscated books and used them as evidence of a crime, which is illogical because books cannot be used to commit a crime,” said Daniel.
| Alleged Police Violations |
| Detention of children without diversion mechanisms |
| Unilateral appointment of legal counsel |
| Excessive use of force, intimidation, and torture |
| Application of disproportionate multiple charges |
It is known that Muhammad Fakhrurrozi is an activist who once served as Director of the Advocacy and Human Rights Clinic (KAHAM) at the Islamic University of Indonesia (UII) in Yogyakarta. Meanwhile, Faiz is a student who actively voices student issues through posters on social media.
“Faiz is a student and literacy activist. He was charged with incitement through leaflets and speeches. This violates the principles of freedom of assembly and democracy,” he continued.
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KontraS and LBH Surabaya suspect that the crackdown will continue. The arrests and criminalization of the public and activists are being carried out without touching the real actors or masterminds behind the riots.
“We believe this will continue as long as the real actors are not revealed. Civil society investigations by YLBHI and KontraS have found that military personnel were involved in a number of riots. But these individuals have not been touched to date,” said Daniel.
Juir from KontraS Surabaya expressed a similar view. He said there was uncertainty within the police force in handling and processing cases. This is because most of the suspects have not yet been brought to trial, even though they have been in detention since September. “The detention period will be 60 days as of October 30. There is uncertainty within the police force in resolving this case,” he continued.
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In addition, the manhunt and criminalization without touching the actors involved shows the failure of reform within the National Police. The police are said to have made arbitrary arrests with so many suspects, but without any clarity.
They also demanded that the police stop hunting, arresting, and criminalizing scapegoats, and immediately investigate the actors involved in a number of riots. Daniel said that his party continues to push for the police to stop the arrests by collaborating with other networks, including holding hearings with the East Java Regional Police.
Meanwhile, Juir requested that the government form a fact-finding team to investigate the issue. “The government should form a joint fact-finding team to uncover the root of the problem,” said Juir. However, this team has yet to be formed.
