Journalists between being beaten by the police during the DPR’s demonstration, Aji Kecam Violence – Indonesia’s Latest Viral

VIRALTERKINI.ID, JAKARTA – The incident of violence against journalists again occurred in the Capital City. A photographer of the Antara News Agency, Bayu Pratama, was beaten by members of the police while covering a demonstration around the House of Representatives (DPR) Building on Monday, August 25, 2025.

Bayu revealed that he was taking pictures of the apparatus who was dissolving the protesters when a policeman hit him repeatedly using a stick.

“Even though I have brought two cameras and wearing an ID card,” Bayu said, quoted from Antara.

According to his confession, he had tried to hold the blow with his hands, but one of the blows about the camera being used.

As a result of the incident, the camera was damaged and his hands suffered blisters. “The camera died was hit. The left hand was also blister,” he said.

Bayu deplored the repressive actions of the apparatus who were considered failed to distinguish between journalists and demonstration participants. “Attitudes like this threaten the freedom of the press,” he said.

The demonstration that took place since the morning was attended by thousands of people who demanded the investigation of the alleged corruption of the family of former President Joko Widodo and the impeachment of Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.

This action was initiated by a group that calls itself the “Indonesian People’s Revolution” and is spread through social media.

In an invitation message circulating on Sunday, August 24, 2025, the group appealed to the community, laborers, farmers, and students to take to the DPR to urge the DPR to carry out the supervision function of the government.

Until late at night, the demonstration heats up. The police officers who guarded the masses forcibly in front of the Parliament Building. However, the protesters then turned to the back door of the Parliament Building, triggered a bigger riot.

The Jakarta Independent Journalist Alliance (AJI) strongly condemned the acts of violence experienced by Bayu.

The Chairman of AJI Jakarta, Irsyan Hasyim, assessed that the police failed to protect journalists who were carrying out journalistic duties.

“Despite their appearance as a journalist, Bayu was actually beaten by the police using batons,” Irsyan said through a written statement, Monday (8/25/2025).

Aji emphasized that violence against journalists is not new and continues to repeat, including from the police.

Based on AJI data, throughout June 2024 to June 2025, there were more than 20 reports of violence against journalists, most of them occur when they covered the mass action.

Some incidents occurred during the coverage of “May Day” action in May 2025 and demonstrations rejected the revision of the Indonesian National Army Law.

Nationally, Aji recorded 52 cases of violence against journalists to mid -2025.

“This police action clearly cannot be tolerated,” said Irsyan. According to him, the police must change the approach in dealing with demonstrations by prioritizing respect for human rights and stop repressive acts.

This case again highlighted the condition of press freedom in Indonesia. Aji assesses that the authorities need to be given training in order to understand the existence and role of journalists in the field, so that there is no wrong target.

The journalist organization also urged that cases of violence that befell Bayu are legally processed to provide a deterrent effect to the perpetrators.

A number of press activists considered, if violence against journalists continues to occur without firm action, this can create a fear climate and hamper journalistic work, especially in the coverage of public issues such as demonstrations and government policies.

Until this news was revealed, the police have not provided an official statement regarding the beating incident.