JPW strong criticism of an extraordinary promotion for the police to be injured when securing the demonstration

KABARJAWA – A wave of criticism flowed swiftly after Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto asked National Police Chief General Police Listyo Sigit Prabowo to give an extraordinary promotion to police officers who were injured while securing the demonstration.

Jogja Police Watch (JPW) performed the most vocal by mentioning the policy to injure the sense of justice of the people while slapping the conscience of the nation.

President Prabowo conveyed the request after visiting a number of police who were treated at the National Police Hospital, Jakarta, Monday, September 1, 2025. In a firm tone, the President asked the police institution to give appreciation in the form of an extraordinary promotion as a form of appreciation for the dedication and sacrifice of the apparatus.

However, the move immediately ignited public debate, especially from the activist and independent supervisor of the police.

JPW criticism of the President’s policy

JPW Public Relations Head of Public Relations, Baharuddin Kamba, revealed that the policy has the potential to injure the justice of civilian casualties which actually became the most vulnerable party in the demonstration.

He asserted that the state should not only focus on rewarding the authorities, but also recognized the suffering of injured demonstrators and even died.

“The granting of this extraordinary promotion clearly injured the justice of the demonstrations, such as the late Affan Kurniawan who was crushed by the Tactical Brimob of the National Police. The state appeared to ignore the facts of real human rights violations in the field,” said Baharuddin in his official statement.

JPW also highlighted the tragic cases that befell students of the University of AMIKOM Yogyakarta, the late Rheza Sendy Pratama, who died on Sunday, August 31, 2025.

Rheza became a symbol of national wounds due to clashes that should not have occurred. According to JPW, the awarding to the injured police without weighing the fate of civilian casualties is a permissive step of the apparatus’s repressive practices.

“How could the state give appreciation to the authorities, while the families of civilian victims only get sad news? Does the state appreciation only apply in one direction?” Sindir Baharuddin.

Questions about justice and human rights

JPW rate, if the National Police Chief really granted the president’s request, the credibility of the police institution was at the end of the horn. The value of the state appreciation is biased, even losing meaning.

This institution emphasized that the state should stand tall above the equivalent principle of justice, not only paid respect for the authorities, but also recognizes the suffering of the people.

This criticism also opened a broader debate about the direction of human rights enforcement in Indonesia. Is the country really present to protect all its citizens without exception, or just stand by the authorities?

The question is now hanging in the public space, waiting for a firm answer from the government and the National Police Chief.

“Do not let the extraordinary promotion given haphazardly. If the state respects the injured apparatus, then what award will be given to the mass of action who are also victims and even died?” said Kamba.