Number of detainees in May 21-22 rallies reaches 300

They are yet being questioned to identify the on-field culprits, field coordinators, and intellectual actors.

The Indonesian police have arrested a total of 300 rioters following the rallies held on May 21-22 to revolt against alleged electoral fraud.

Several hundred detainees are undergoing questioning to examine their roles in the clashes lasting from Tuesday night to early Thursday, Chief of the Public Information Bureau of the National Police Brigadier General Dedi Prasetyo remarked at the National Police Headquarters in Jakarta on Thursday.

"They are yet being examined to unearth the on-field accused, field coordinators, and intellectual actors," he stated.

The police made arrests at several locations in the capital, including Slipi, Petamburan, MH Thamrin, and Tanah Abang.

Prasetyo confirmed that the police had also confiscated several pieces of evidence, comprising rupiah banknotes, US dollar banknotes, sharp weapons, molotov cocktails, mobile phones, cameras, stone catapults, and fireworks, from the rioters.

Prasetyo revealed that in order to maintain the security situation in the capital, 58 thousand personnel from the Indonesian military and police were being deployed at vital locations, including the Election Oversight Body (Bawaslu), Presidential Palace, Parliamentary Building, and Constitutional Court.

A rally held to voice rejection to the disputed election results snowballed into irate, violent clashes on May 21-22 in West and Central Jakarta. The furious mob hurled stones and fireworks at on-duty law enforcement personnel and set ablaze a police post on MH Thamrin Street.

Eight demonstrators were killed, and over 700 others suffered injuries, including 78 protesters were seriously wounded, in the clashes between demonstrators and police officers, according to Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan on Thursday.

As of Thursday, 13 victims of the rioting that erupted in the capital city Jakarta on May 21-22 are yet undergoing treatment at the Pelni Hospital in West Jakarta.

Head of the Development Division of Pelni Hospital Dr Didid Winnetouw remarked that the seriously and moderately injured victims suffered fractures, muscle injuries, and wounds from rubber bullets.

Some 82 victims of the unrest were receiving treatment at the hospital, including 62 for minor injuries, 13 for moderate injuries, five for serious injuries, and one for non-traumatic illness, while two had died, he stated.

 

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