September 19, 2025 | 04:08 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The East Java Regional Police announced the arrest of nearly 1,000 people suspected of involvement in riots that erupted during demonstrations across ten areas of East Java from Friday to Saturday, August 29–30, 2025.
Officers also confiscated various items, including books they claim promote anarchist ideologies.
East Java Police Chief Inspector General Nanang Avianto said the arrests were made over a 19-day period following the unrest, with suspects detained in Sidoarjo, Malang, Jember, and Kediri.
"In total, 997 individuals were taken into custody, 582 adults and 415 minors. Of those, 682 have been released, while 315 remain under legal process," Nanang said at police headquarters on Thursday night, September 18, 2025.
Director of General Crime Investigation Police Grand Commissioner Widiatmoko detailed the charges against the suspects, which include looting, vandalizing public facilities, stealing police equipment, and possessing books containing anarchist ideas.
"We found such materials in the possession of a suspect identified as GLM, 24 years old," Widiatmoko said.
Among the seized books presented as evidence were The Thoughts of Karl Marx by Franz Magnis Suseno, Anarchism by Emma Goldman, The Dictators by Jules Archer, What Is Anarchist Communism by Alexander Berkman, and Guerrilla Warfare Strategies by Che Guevara.
“In total, we secured 11 books with anarchist content, along with 42 stones, 10 hoodies, 18 cell phones, nine motorcycles, as well as stolen police vests and shields,” Widiatmoko added.
He noted that police are still investigating the case and pursuing individuals believed to be the masterminds behind the unrest.
Police Colonel Jules Abraham Abast, Head of Public Relations for the East Java Police, said preliminary findings suggest that some suspects had ties to anarchist groups and came from various professional backgrounds.
“Our investigation is ongoing,” Abast said.
The suspects face multiple charges, including Article 406 of the Criminal Code on vandalism, Articles 212, 187, and 160 of the Criminal Code, Article 1 of Emergency Law No. 12 of 1951, as well as Article 28 paragraph (3) in conjunction with Article 45(A) paragraph (3) of the 2024 amendment to Law No. 11 of 2008 on Electronic Information and Transactions.
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