A-Infos (en) UK, AFED, Organise - MASS ARRESTS IN JAKARTA (ca, de, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]

SITUATION REPORT - ARREST AND DETENTION OF PROTESTERS ---- According to 
the information currently available, 322 protesters were detained by the 
Jakarta Metropolitan Police (Polda Metro Jaya) in connection with the 
demonstration on 27-28 August 2026. Of those detained, 273 people have 
been released, while 49 people remain in custody. ---- Of the 49 people 
still detained, 44 are adults and 5 are minors. The legal status of each 
detainee should be made transparent, including the grounds for 
detention, the charges brought against them, and their access to legal 
assistance and representation.

At the same time, serious questions remain regarding the alleged 
involvement of mass organizations or groups seen wearing white headbands 
in the incident that resulted in the death of Bambang Setiyawan. If 
evidence indicates their involvement in violence, all parties implicated 
should be investigated through a transparent, independent, and impartial 
legal process.

It is unacceptable for law enforcement to take harsh measures against 
protesters while other parties allegedly involved in violence are not 
subjected to equally serious investigation. The law must apply equally 
to everyone, regardless of political affiliation, organizational 
membership, clothing, social status, or position.

THE RIGHT TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
We are also deeply concerned about access to legal assistance for 
protesters who remain in detention.

Being detained or accused of a criminal offense does not deprive a 
person of the right to legal representation. Even where a person is 
alleged to have carried objects or equipment associated with a protest, 
that fact alone does not establish criminal guilt. Guilt must be 
established through a lawful and fair legal process.

The principle of presumption of innocence must remain fundamental 
throughout any criminal proceeding. A suspect or defendant must not be 
treated as guilty before guilt has been established through a final and 
binding legal judgment.

In this context, the professional ethics of lawyers require 
independence, integrity, and respect for every person's right to legal 
defense. Access to legal representation should not depend on whether a 
lawyer personally likes the detainee, agrees with their political views, 
or approves of the conduct they are accused of.

A lawyer does not have to agree with a client's political beliefs or 
alleged actions in order to provide legal representation. The lawyer's 
role is to ensure that the client's legal rights are respected and that 
due process is followed, not to determine whether the client is 
personally worthy of a defense.

Legal representation must also not be provided selectively or on the 
basis of favoritism. People with greater financial resources, political 
connections, or social status should not receive better access to 
justice than detainees who lack those advantages.

There have also been reports that some legal counsel are unwilling to 
represent suspects who were allegedly found carrying machetes, Molotov 
cocktails, or other objects during the demonstration. While such 
allegations are serious and must be investigated through due process, 
they should not, in themselves, become a justification for denying a 
suspect access to legal representation.

The role of legal counsel is not to endorse, excuse, or condone the 
alleged conduct of a client. Rather, lawyers have a professional
responsibility to safeguard the client's legal rights, ensure due 
process, and provide an effective defense within the law. A person 
accused of a serious offense remains entitled to the presumption of 
innocence and access to legal representation.

No suspect should be left without meaningful access to legal counsel 
simply because the allegations against them are serious, politically 
controversial, or unpopular.

OUR DEMANDS
We call for:

1. Full transparency regarding the legal status of the 49 people who 
remain detained.
2. Immediate and effective access to legal assistance for all detainees.
3. Special protection for the five detainees who are minors.
4. An independent and transparent investigation into the death of 
Bambang Setiyawan.
5. Investigation of all parties allegedly involved in violence, without 
exception.
6. Full respect for the presumption of innocence for every person who 
has been detained or accused.
7. Respect for the independence of the legal profession and every 
detainee's right to legal representation.
8. An end to discrimination and favoritism in the provision of legal 
assistance, including the refusal to provide representation solely 
because a suspect is accused of possessing a machete, Molotov cocktail, 
or other potentially unlawful object during a demonstration. Such 
allegations must be investigated and adjudicated through due process, 
but must not be used as a blanket justification to deny access to counsel.
9. Respect for the rights to peaceful assembly, freedom of expression, 
and political protest.

The law must not apply selectively. Justice must not be selective.

Carrying certain equipment during a demonstration is not, by itself, 
proof that a person is guilty of a criminal offense. Where serious 
allegations exist, they must be investigated thoroughly and fairly. At 
the same time, every accused person must retain access to legal 
representation and due process.

The presumption of innocence is not a privilege. The right to legal 
defense is not a reward. And access to justice must never be determined 
by favoritism.

Justice must apply to everyone - including those who take to the streets 
to express their political demands.

Palang Hitam

https://organisemagazine.org.uk/2026/09/03/mass-arrests-in-jakarta/
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