The protest in Jakarta on Thursday (Aug. 28) resulted in the death of online motorbike taxi driver Affan Kurniawan, who was struck and run over by a mobile brigade (Brimob) tactical vehicle in the Pejompongan area. The vehicle, which should have been used to safeguard citizens, instead became the cause of a civilian’s death.
Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FH UGM), Dr. Muhammad Fatahillah Akbar, stated that the act of striking and running over the victim falls into the category of criminal homicide, not merely an ethical violation.
“The driver of the tactical vehicle should face criminal charges, not just ethical proceedings,” he said on Monday (Sep. 1).
According to Dr. Akbar, the case suggests elements of intent on the part of the police officers, as the vehicle was driven into a crowd and continued moving after hitting the victim.
He urged the police to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the case and called on the public to closely monitor the legal process to ensure justice for the victim and their family.
Regarding the handling of the protest that ended in tragedy, Dr. Akbar emphasized that security forces should have been able to manage the demonstration properly, as expressing opinions is a constitutional right of every citizen.
“Safeguarding freedom of expression must be done with greater care, especially when involving large crowds,” he noted.
He also acknowledged the public’s outrage following the incident, pointing out that the police, who are meant to protect civilians, instead acted in a way perceived as inhumane toward the demonstrators.
“The protesters should have been safeguarded, not dispersed with tear gas and other forms of violence,” he concluded.
Author: Jelita Agustine
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya Arifadi
Illustration: Aksikamisanjogja on Instagram