In response to growing calls for justice, the Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights has opened an investigation into the alleged shooting of a 13-year-old child in the hands of the police earlier this month.
The event has also highlighted an increase in abuse cases by law enforcement in Indonesia over the past three years.
Mr Hari Kurniawan, an established at the fee, on Tuesday ( Jun 25 ) told local media that they are investigating the death of Afif Maulana- a boy in Indonesia’s West Sumatra province- reportedly in the hands of the police.
” Afif’s dying was strange, and we suspect immoral activities by the police”, he was quoted as saying by The Jakarta Post.  ,
Since then, payment investigators have been dispatched to the province to collect evidence, but it’s not yet clear when they will make their findings.  ,
Inspector General Suharyono, West Sumatra police chief, who goes by the name of some Indonesians, denied that his soldiers had a role in Afif’s death while defending the police power.
However, he added that the unit is presently looking into 45 officers and that there may have been “procedural errors” in how to handle the adolescent brawl.  ,
” If found guilty, we will get strong action and inform the public about the punishment”, said Mr Suharyono.
Mr. Suharyono previously warned that his group was searching for the individual responsible for the media coverage of the abuse allegations. He further explained that the police force believed they had been a target of a press trial.  ,
Mr. Suharyono said quite allegations had harmed the police force because there was no evidence to support their claims.  ,
A senior national at Indonesia’s Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection said the case may be made known in response to CNA’s inquiries.  ,
” This case may be made known to the public so that it becomes apparent, and if it involves kids who are breaking the law, make sure the rights of children are upheld,” said Mr. Nahar, Deputy Minister for Child Protection at the government.
All HAPPENED ,
People of Padang, West Sumatra state, discovered Afif’s bruised body on June 9 under a bridge.
According to an article published by the Padang Legal Aid Institute, which assists in providing legal help for cruelty crimes that took place in West Sumatra, Afif died after being tortured by the authorities, who stopped him and his friends on fear of attempting to instigate brawls, according to Indonesian media outlet Kompas.  ,
Afif and his companion, who was identified as” A,” were approached by officers on guard when they were riding a bicycle across the Batang Kuranji Bridge, according to Ms. Indira Suryani, director of the institute.  ,
” When the police approached, ( one of the officers ) kicked the victim’s vehicle. According to Ms. Indira,” Afif was thrown to the side of the road.”  ,
Based on A’s speech, he was separated from Afif, who was then surrounded by some officers wielding bamboo wheelchairs. He was conscious of his brother’s state until Afif’s body was discovered under the gate.
It is very likely that Afif Maulana was mistreated before he died, according to Ms. Indira, based on that information and the scars all over the system.  ,
Seven different people, including five youngsters, had related encounters with the police that day, according to independent investigations conducted by the Padang Legal Aid Institute.  ,
There were also accounts of physical abuse, with victims reportedly being forced to love police officers. The wounds sustained by Afif and other victims reportedly resulted from bamboo beatings, blows, electric shocks, and cigar burns.  ,
” This mistreatment was aimed at forcing confessions about the ( suspected ) brawl”, said Ms Indira.  ,
Police have since refuted the allegations, and said a team was put together to stop and manage numerous brawls that take place every Sunday night.
Deddy Adriansyah Putra, the mind of the Padang Police Criminal Investigation Unit, claimed that the soldiers left after they saw them and that many of them left their weapons.  ,
” Various weapons, such as celurit ( sickle ), were secured by officers at the scene, and 18 individuals were detained …”, he said.
The police even obtained data from Afif’s companion, who was with him during the event.  ,
” We learned that when officers approached, the target asked his friend to bounce ( into the river ). However, his friend chose to sacrifice instead”, said Mr Deddy.  ,
Since Afif’s dying, Ms. Anggun Anggriani has alleged that police have not contacted the home for information.  ,
The Padang Legal Aid Institute, along with kids, have since held a show demanding justice for the schoolboy’s dying in front of the West Sumatra Police Station, with members dressed in black.  ,
INCREASE IN TORTURE CASES INVOLVING LAW ENFORCEMENT ,
Over the past three decades, Indonesian law enforcement agencies have been reporting an increase in abuse situations. Amnesty International Indonesia has learned more about this. From 2021 to 2022, there were at least 15 situations involving 25 patients.
The amount then rose to 16 cases with 26 patients between 2022 and 2023, before surging to 30 situations with 49 patients in the past year.  ,
According to information from Amnesty International Indonesia, the police force made up 75 % of the perpetrators, followed by military personnel ( 19 % ), a combination of military and police personnel ( 5 % ), and prison officers ( 1 % ).
Earlier this year, a presumed criminal was returned useless to his relatives by police officers in Ketapang, West Kalimantan. Following this affair, five soldiers were removed from their posts, and legal proceedings are ongoing.