There are often rumors about the police using excessive force against criminal suspects, often to force confession out of them (as many believe happened to the JIS janitors who confessed to sexually abusing children, confessions they later recanted for being made due to torture).
But the number of reports about police brutality received by Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) in the last few months is especially troubling. According to Kontras, seven people have died and 16 others were injured while in police custody from May to August of this year.
“That total is only based on the reports [we’ve received]. It is likely there are more than this,” said Yati Andriyani, Kontras’ deputy coordinator of advocacy, at press conference in Menteng yesterday as quoted by Kompas.
One reported death was that of RS, a 16-year-old who was arrested on May 8 by the Jatanras Samarinda Police on suspicion motorcycle theft. Kontras believes RS was forced to confess after enduring torture that led to vomiting and eventually death.
On June 8, Kontras received complaints about the alleged torture of 19 citizens arrested by police in Serpong, five of whom died while in custody. The group was originally arrested due to their alleged links to a motorcycle theft syndicate. However, because the police did not have strong enough evidence, the 14 who lived were released. The five who died supposedly suffered gunshot wounds and one had a broken collar.
On June 22, Kontras received complaints of alleged torture by members of the police in Widang, Tuban, against a 12-year-old with the initials VA. This case began after one of his neighbors reported that his bike was stolen by VA. Police also arrested the child, who was then tortured into confessing. However, VA was eventually released because the charges could not be proven.
On August 7, Kontras receive a report about a drug user named Suharli who died after being arrested by the Bangka police. Police allegedly tortured him for evidence and Suharli eventually died from his injuries.
Each case is shocking on its own, but together they show an incredibly disturbing pattern of brutality that can be seen throughout the Indonesian police force.
Kontra’s Yati criticized the investigations in each case, especially the lack of evidence acquired by police before making the arrests.
“In these instances, they were arrested without sufficient evidence. Because the police wanted to get that evidence, eventually they tortured [the suspects],” said Yati.
“It shows the skill of police in handling criminal cases is minimal. They take shortcuts, arrest, torture, and come up with information that is incompatible with the facts. Even worse, there is never any change from year to year,” Yati said.
As Yati says, the police has consistently shown that it has no interest in policing itself. Therefore it is up to the people to speak up against police brutality if there is ever going to be reform.
