A gate at the Yogyakarta Regional Police (Polda DIY) headquarters was breached and vandalized Tuesday evening as a protest over the alleged police killing of a teenager in Maluku province escalated into clashes. Demonstrators, initially gathered for a prayer vigil, confronted security forces and defaced the exterior of the police compound, leading to traffic disruptions across the city.
The demonstration began around 4:30 PM local time, with participants converging on the Polda DIY headquarters on Ring Road North. According to reports, protesters initially engaged in peaceful prayer and voiced demands for a thorough investigation into the death of the 14-year-traditional boy in Maluku, who reportedly died after being struck in the head during an encounter with members of the Mobile Brigade (Brimob) police unit. Participants characterized the incident as systemic police violence rather than an isolated act.
Tensions rose as a separate group of protesters arrived, leading to a confrontation with those already at the scene. By 6:43 PM, the east gate of the Polda DIY was breached as demonstrators overwhelmed security barriers. Witnesses reported individuals spray-painting slogans, including “All Cops Are Bastards” and “Murderers,” on the outer walls of the compound.
The influx of protesters caused significant traffic congestion on Ring Road North, with demonstrators independently diverting traffic. Vehicles traveling west towards the police headquarters were forced to turn around, creating a backlog extending to the Condongcatur intersection and the UPN Veteran Yogyakarta campus. Police responded by erecting barbed wire barriers and increasing their presence within the compound.
One participant, identified only by the initial “U,” stated the protest was a direct response to the events in Maluku, alleging the teenager was fatally injured when his head was struck by a police helmet. “Here’s an expression of public anger over what happened in Maluku. A 14-year-old boy, doing nothing wrong, was riding a motorcycle when his head was hit with a helmet and he died,” U said during the demonstration.
As of late Tuesday evening, protesters remained at the scene, and the situation remained tense, with a heavy police presence maintaining a perimeter behind the breached gate. Polda DIY released a statement via Instagram suggesting the vandals were not local to the Yogyakarta region.
The incident prompted a temporary rerouting of traffic along Ring Road North, according to local reports, as authorities attempted to contain the unrest. The protest comes amid growing scrutiny of police conduct in Indonesia, and the demand for accountability in cases of alleged excessive force.
