ZOAHARIAN.COM – The demonstration in Yogyakarta which took place from Tuesday (10/11/2026) evening to Wednesday (11/11/2026) early morning ended in chaos. At least 154 people were detained by the police after riots occurred at a number of points, including the DPRD Building for the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY).

The handling of this action is now in the spotlight after reports emerged of alleged violence by authorities against demonstration participants and the entry of officers into the Gadjah Mada University (UGM) area.

In the midst of this situation, LBH Yogyakarta together with the Bara Adil Legal Team admitted to receiving dozens of complaints regarding action participants who were detained, injured, or whose whereabouts were unknown.

Based on the report from the Bara Adil Legal Team as of Wednesday (11/11/2026) at 03.50 WIB, there were 64 complaints submitted via the legal aid hotline. In detail, 47 people were reportedly detained, the whereabouts of 13 people were unknown, two people had been released or returned home, and two people were receiving treatment in hospital.

This number does not include the nine action participants or residents who were injured and received first aid at Bethesda Hospital.

Police Say Mob Attacked DIY DPRD Building

The DIY Regional Police said that the demonstration which took place from noon to 19.00 WIB initially proceeded in an orderly manner.

However, the situation changed at around 20.07 WIB when around 100 people gathered in front of the DIY DPRD Building.

According to police information, the group is suspected of carrying out the attack by shooting firecrackers and throwing Molotov cocktails and stones at the DPRD building area.

The police then deployed four Company Level Units (SSK) of the Brimob Riot Squad and 60 Brimob Riot Enforcement Unit (SPP) personnel.

Officers carried out crowd control and pushed the crowd towards the north of the Malioboro area. Until around 21.00 WIB, the crowd was said to have been pushed towards the Golong-Gilig Monument area.

At 23.30 WIB, Brimob again carried out large-scale patrols in Yogyakarta City.

As a result of this operation, the police arrested 154 people suspected of being involved in anarchist acts and destruction of public facilities.

The police also confiscated a number of items suspected to be related to the riots, including six Molotov bottles, 12 firecrackers, seven bottles filled with petrol, one sharp weapon, one slingshot and one pack of buckshot.

All the people arrested are still undergoing examination to investigate their respective roles.

Alleged Violence by Officials Around the UGM Campus

On the other hand, different testimony was conveyed by the Student Press and Publishing Institute (LPPM) Sintesa FISIPOL UGM.

In a statement given to BBC News Indonesia, Sintesa said that the authorities came from the south at around 23.20 WIB and fired tear gas and firecrackers towards the UGM campus area.

As a result, the crowd around the UGM roundabout moved into the campus area to seek protection.

Sintesa also reported allegations of abuse against a participant in the action. The person is said to have confronted the authorities before finally falling and being arrested.

In his testimony, the participants in the action were allegedly punched and kicked repeatedly until they appeared weak before being dragged into the street and taken away by officers at around 23.45 WIB.

This information became one of the bases for criticism of the authorities' actions in handling the demonstration.

UGM Condemns Alleged Repressive Actions

The Department of Politics and Government, FISIPOL UGM, also issued a statement regarding the handling of the demonstration.

They emphasized that freedom of expression is the right of every citizen, including students.

DPP FISIPOL UGM urges the state to guarantee freedom of expression without intimidation, threats or acts of violence.

They also condemned the authorities' alleged repressive actions against students and asked that all arrested students be immediately released.

Apart from that, UGM demands that students undergoing examination or detention have full access to legal aid without any obstacles.

UGM Deputy Chancellor, Wening Udasmoro, even considered that the police's security measures at the demonstration were excessive.

"The apparatus as a whole. So it seems like there is a phobia about one protest. Even though the aim of this protest is to provide input to the country which is currently in very difficult conditions," said Wening at a press conference, Wednesday (11/11/2026).

The whereabouts of eight UGM students are unknown

The situation became increasingly of concern after the Dean of FISIPOL UGM, Gabriel Lele, revealed that the campus was tracking the whereabouts of eight students whose condition was unknown.

The campus team has even visited the Yogyakarta Regional Police to seek information about the whereabouts of these students.

"We received initial information that of the eight students who were arrested, some were most likely victims of wrongful arrest because they were actually heading to a point near Malioboro to pick up a motorbike," said Gabriel.

The eight students consisted of six FISIPOL students, one student from the Faculty of Philosophy, and one student from the Faculty of Forestry.

The National Police Chief Goes Directly to the DIY DPRD Building

The chaos of this demonstration also received the direct attention of the National Police Chief, General Suyudi Ario Seto.

The National Police Chief visited the DIY DPRD Office on Wednesday (11/11/2026) early in the morning at around 01.23 WIB with his entourage, including the Deputy Chair of the Indonesian DPR, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad.

At the location, Suyudi met a number of protesters who were secured in the lobby and second floor of the DIY DPRD building.

He said the police were still carrying out investigations to determine the parties suspected of carrying dangerous items at the demonstration.

"We will reveal the perpetrators who deliberately brought dangerous items such as molotovs, sharps, and so on," said Suyudi.

He also stated that the police would investigate whether the demonstration was truly aimed at expressing an opinion or whether there were parties who took advantage of the action to cause riots.

Meanwhile, the Bara Adil Legal Team asked people who lost contact with their families or relatives after the demonstration in Yogyakarta to immediately contact the legal aid hotline.

As of Wednesday, handling of the case was still ongoing. The examination of the 154 people who were arrested as well as tracing the whereabouts of unknown participants in the action attracted the attention of various parties.