Coinciding with the 79th Bhayangkara Day – An official anniversary celebration of the Indonesian National Police (Polri) – which is commemorated on 1st July 2025, the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS) launched a Policy Paper titled “Kekerasan yang Menjulang di Tengah Penegakan Hukum yang Timpang” (English: Soaring Violence Amid Unequal Law Enforcement). This policy paper serves as a form of KontraS’ participation towards Security Sector Reform particularly the Indonesian National Police (Polri) reformation, in line with the reform mandate for encouraging Polri to evaluate institutional improvement based on human rights and democracy standards.
This policy paper aims to document various violent incidents and alleged human rights violations committed by Polri members during the period of July 2024-June 2025. It has been compiled to present a discourse in the midst of society as a recommendation material for the government and the police institutions itself. The document is referred to as an evaluation in order to realize the police institutions as professional security institutions as envisioned by the reform.
Throughout July 2024 - June 2025, KontraS recorded 602 cases of violence committed by Polri, with firearm-related incidents being the most frequent, reaching a total of 411 cases. Among these incidents, 38 were identified as torture incidents which led to 86 victims, with 10 death and 76 sustained injuries ranging from minor to severe. KontraS also documented 37 extrajudicial killing incidents which led to 40 victims.
During the period of July 2024 - June 2025, KontraS recorded 44 wrongful arrest incidents which resulted in 35 people injured and 8 people dead. In addition, KontraS’ monitoring results from July 2024 to June 2025 recorded 89 violations against civil liberties in various forms. Particularly, in the same time span, there have been 42 incidents of forced dispersal of protest that spread across various regions in Indonesia.
There were 1,020 people who were victims of violations, the majority of whom were university students. However, the scope of the victims was not limited to university students; journalists, paramedics, farmers, school students, civilians, and activists were also affected. In fact, during the same period, the activists/human rights defenders also experienced similar vulnerability by facing 62 cases of arrests, where 5 experienced injuries.
An “unequal” pattern of law enforcement such as undue delay and “criminalization” towards public participation remained vulnerable throughout the period of July 2024 to June 2025. Incidents of violence are still prone to occur in various sectors, however the law enforcement sometimes appears neglectful and unequal.
The incidents indicate that the time has come for Polri to reform and evaluate. Law enforcement, security, and order shouldn’t be done by violating citizen’s rights. An evaluation in the form of stricter surveillance and imposing both ethical and criminal sanctions against the members of Polri who commit excessive acts of violence and human rights violation must be carried out.
On the other hand, the direction of the formulation of laws and regulations, particularly in the context of the criminal justice system, should have been done by recognizing those facts. The government must seriously examine various police authorities that cause excessive use of force and various human rights violations.
Jakarta, 30 June 2025
Working Body of KontraS
Dimas Bagus Arya
The Coordinator
KontraS
Komisi Untuk Orang Hilang dan Korban Tindak Kekerasan
