TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Amnesty International Indonesia Director Usman Hamid said that 15 Trisakti University students were still being held by the police this morning, Friday, May 23, 2025. Usman said that the 15 Trisakti students were still being held even though on Thursday afternoon, May 22, 2025, there was news that the investigation would be completed.
"Reportedly, all students who were arrested, including the 15 students who are still at the Regional Police, will be sent home in stages," he said via short message, Friday, May 23, 2025.
Chronology of the Arrest of Trisakti Students
Head of Public Relations and Relations for the Trisakti University Legal Aid and Consultation Institute (LKBH), Wildan Arif Husen explained that the arrests occurred because of a clash between students and the police. Wildan explained that the clash occurred when students tried to enter the City Hall area, but were blocked by the police. "In that situation, there was a kind of repression from the authorities," Wildan said when contacted by Tempo on Tuesday night, May 20, 2025.
Hundreds of students from various Trisakti Foundation universities today held a demonstration to commemorate the 27th anniversary of the Trisakti Tragedy on May 12, 1998. The incident claimed the lives of four Trisakti University students, namely Elang Mulia Lesmana, Heri Hartanto, Hafidin Royan, and Hendriawan Sie. The four students died while holding a peaceful demonstration to demand reform during the New Order era. In the demonstration, the masses demanded justice for the victims of the Trisakti Tragedy who died at the hands of state officials.
Wildan said that dozens of demonstrators who were arrested were students from various universities and colleges under the Trisakti Foundation. Until Wednesday, May 22, 2025 in the early hours of the morning, the demonstrators were still undergoing examination at the Directorate of General Crimes (Dirkrimum) of the Metro Jaya Police.
"The examination has been ongoing since around 18.30 WIB," he said. Wildan said that in this investigation the police applied Article 212, Article 160, and Article 170 of the Criminal Code (KUHP).
Legal Process
Currently Usman Hamid and the legal advisory team from the Trisakti Legal Consultation and Aid Institute are still accompanying the students. Usman has been at the Metro Police since Thursday to follow the release process. The families of the arrested students have also arrived to receive them while awaiting their return.
Met at the Metro Jaya Police, Usman said that the police have named 15 Trisakti University students as suspects. However, the lecturer at the Indonesian Jentera Law College was reluctant to explain what articles and charges the police used to ensnare the 15 students.
"The plan is for all of them to be sent home even though their legal statuses are different. Some are suspects, some are not," said Usman.
One of the Trisakti University students who was also arrested, Robertus Juan Pratama, said that so far the police have promised to send 12 students home. In fact, the police have also made a report on the release and handover of students who were arrested with their families.
"The release of the victims or people who were arrested yesterday and released today was 12 people," said Juan.
Meanwhile, the Head of Public Relations of the Jakarta Metro Police, Senior Commissioner Ade Ary Syam Indradi, did not mention the determination of suspects or promises to release the students. He claimed that the police are still examining the demonstrators.
"Everything is still being investigated. Because each (demonstrator) is still being investigated for their role in the incident that occurred," said Ade in a press conference on Thursday, May 22, 2025.
However, Ade revealed that several of the demonstrators were indeed reported to the police for their actions during the demonstration.
The police report was made by security officers in (Pamdal) Jakarta City Hall.
"The police report is from Mr. MF. Mr. MF is a security officer who is stationed at the Jakarta City Hall Building," said Ade. The demonstrators were reported on suspicion of violating Articles 160, 170, 351, 212, 216, and 218 of the Criminal Code.
The latest news is that the Jakarta Metro Police have again arrested a Trisakti University student who took part in a demonstration in front of the Jakarta City Hall Building which ended in chaos. The student was arrested by the police on Saturday, May 24, 2025.
"On behalf of MAA, he was arrested in the Cibitung District area," said the Head of the Public Information Sub-Division of the Jakarta Metro Police, Adjunct Senior Commissioner Reonald Simanjuntak in his written statement on Sunday, May 15, 2025.
Oyuk Ivani Sagian and Daniel Ahmad Fajri contributed to writing this article.
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