157 Protesters Reportedly Held at Yogyakarta Police Headquarters After Demonstration

JAKARTA, JakartaWeekly.com—The Civil Society Network, together with the Legal Team of the Barisan Advokat untuk Demokrasi dan Keadilan (BARA ADIL), reported that as of November 11, 2026, 157 protesters remained in custody at the Yogyakarta Regional Police (Polda DIY) headquarters.

They sought to provide legal assistance by visiting the police headquarters from 12:00 p.m. local time. However, the Civil Society Network and BARA ADIL were only granted access to meet the detained protesters at 5:00 p.m.

“Today, we are making efforts to provide legal assistance and ensure access to legal representation for our fellow citizens who were arrested following the demonstration on November 10, 2026,” one of the coordinators of the Civil Society Network and BARA ADIL said in a statement posted on the official Instagram account of the Yogyakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Yogyakarta).

In their statement, they raised three main concerns. First, they said the repressive measures taken by security forces to control the crowd were disproportionate and undermined the freedom of expression and the right to assemble peacefully in public.

Second, they reported arbitrary arrests of civilians in public spaces, including people who had not participated in the demonstrations but were simply present in areas around Tugu, Malioboro, Mangkubumi, and the UGM Roundabout.

Third, they criticized the involvement of the Indonesian Military (TNI) in handling and controlling civilian demonstrations, saying it undermined democratic principles and the rule of law.

“We urge all elements of civil society to continue speaking out and monitoring the legal assistance process until it is fully completed,” LBH Yogyakarta said.

Protesters Taken to Hospital

According to Jakarta Weekly’s observations, two protesters were taken to hospital. The UGM Sociology Student Association (KM Sosio UGM), in a post on its Instagram account, said one of the protesters, Nurjihad Akbar Siregar, a UGM student, had sustained a severe neck injury and was receiving treatment at a nearby hospital.

KM Sosio UGM explained that during the November 10, 2026 demonstration, protesters gathered along Malioboro Street were pushed back toward the Tugu area. They were then forced to retreat again and dispersed, with most moving toward the UGM Boulevard area.

“While in the UGM Boulevard area, our friend, Nurjihad Akbar Siregar, was chased by plainclothes officers and fell. After he fell, he was surrounded, beaten, and kicked repeatedly until he appeared extremely weak,” KM Sosio UGM wrote.

LBH DIY reported that as of November 11, 2026, it had received a total of 64 complaints through the BARA ADIL hotline. The complaints involved 47 people in custody, 13 people whose whereabouts remained unknown, two people who had been released or returned home, and two people hospitalized with injuries.

These figures did not include nine protesters or residents who were being treated at Bethesda Hospital and had already received first aid. LBH DIY received this information at 2:09 a.m. local time on November 11, 2026.

Yogyakarta Police Continue Investigation

Yogyakarta Police Chief Inspector General Langgeng Purnomo said the police were still conducting examinations with assistance from the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), the Ombudsman, and the National Police Commission (Kompolnas). He said those who were not found to have committed any wrongdoing would be released.

“During the examination process, we are receiving assistance from Komnas HAM, the Ombudsman, and Kompolnas. Those who are not found to have committed any wrongdoing will be released,” he said, as quoted from the official Instagram account of the Yogyakarta Police.

Langgeng also said that of the 157 people taken into custody, 154 had been returned to their families, including 22 minors. Two others were handed over to the Yogyakarta Provincial National Narcotics Agency (BNNP DIY) after testing positive for narcotics, while one person was named a suspect. Police reportedly seized Molotov cocktails, sharp weapons, and firecrackers as evidence.

Furthermore, Langgeng said the Yogyakarta Regional Police and Gadjah Mada University (UGM) would establish a joint team to investigate allegations of excessive force by security personnel.

Timeline of the November 10, 2026 Demonstration

The November 10, 2026 demonstration involved various groups of people and took place at Kilometer Zero in the Malioboro area of Yogyakarta, near the Yogyakarta Regional House of Representatives (DPRD DIY) building. The protest began at around 1:00 p.m. local time. Although it was initially peaceful, clashes broke out that evening and continued into Wednesday, November 11, 2026.

Based on Jakarta Weekly’s observations, clashes between protesters and security forces spread to several key locations, including Panti Rapih Hospital, the UGM campus area, and Bethesda Hospital.

The unrest began on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, when a group of black-clad protesters moved toward the front of the DPRD DIY building. Their identities have not yet been established. The group threw objects at the building, which was reportedly unlit at the time.

As the fence began to give way, security forces moved to disperse the crowd using tactical vehicles. A series of chases followed, spreading to several key locations across Yogyakarta. The clashes continued, and security forces eventually fired tear gas.

The Yogyakarta Regional Police said they had deployed a joint force consisting of four Brimob riot-control company-sized units, 60 personnel from the Riot Control Unit, and 858 personnel from the Intelligence and Criminal Investigation Patrol Task Force. However, the police denied that officers had entered the UGM campus area.

Based on Jakarta Weekly’s monitoring of reports circulating on social media, Rafida Anggita, a 2019 UGM Philosophy graduate, suffered a skull fracture and was scheduled to undergo surgery. Other protesters were reportedly struck with blunt objects, resulting in swelling to their heads, chests, and stomachs. Some were also reported to have been in critical condition and required hospital treatment.

In addition, a resident reported on social media that their journey to take a heart attack patient to Sardjito Hospital had been obstructed near the UGM Roundabout. According to the resident, tear gas entered the ambulance while it was in the area. The resident also said that although protesters had helped clear a path, the patient’s transfer was still delayed because police officers stationed there took considerable time to open the road.