TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Legal Aid Institute Foundation (YLBHI) has addressed accusations of infiltration during the International Labour Day or May Day 2026 rally in front of the Indonesian Parliament (DPR) building. Earlier, the Jakarta Metro Jaya Police claimed a mass group was suspected of intending to cause destruction during the demonstration.
YLBHI Chairperson Muhammad Isnur stated that the police should not make baseless accusations. "Who are the infiltrators? Please do not make arbitrary accusations," Isnur said when met during the rally on Friday, May 1, 2026.
According to Isnur, the police must be held accountable for these claims. He argued that authorities must provide proof of those suspected of intending to cause riots. "Accusations are often directed at anarchists, but is that true?" Isnur told Tempo.
Isnur stated that while the police have an obligation to prevent unrest by detecting potential threats, this applies to all groups, whether civilians or personnel from other institutions.
Previously, Jakarta Metro Jaya Police Deputy Chief Brigadier General Dekananto Eko Purwono said an organized mass group was predicted to provoke rioting. "This is based on intelligence information," Dekananto said on Friday, May 1, 2026.
Dekananto warned all personnel to anticipate potential unrest. He ordered that the group be dealt with before reaching the demonstration point. "I request that you take repressive, yet educative measures," Dekananto said.
Public Relations Chief of the Jakarta Metro Jaya Police, Commissioner Budi Hermanto, mentioned that a mass component expected to cause trouble has been identified. "The police will not hesitate to secure those involved," Budi told journalists in front of the Parliament building.
Assistant Operations of the Chief of Staff of the Regional Military Command Jayakarta (Asops Kasdam Jaya), Brigadier General M. Iswan Nusi, stated that a special task force has been prepared to secure the event. "We have formed an intelligence task force," Iswan said on Thursday, April 30, 2026.
According to Iswan, the intelligence task force consists of personnel from Kodam Jaya and the Intelligence and Security Agency (Baintelkam) of the Jakarta Metro Police. They will also coordinate with the Strategic Intelligence Agency (Bais TNI) and the State Intelligence Agency (BIN).
Iswan stated that the team is tasked with monitoring the situation on the ground. "The existing intelligence officers must immediately coordinate and report if there are any anomalies," Iswan said during the troop deployment briefing.
Based on Tempo's observation at the location, crowds began gathering in front of the DPR/MPR building at 11:00 AM. The demonstration was organized by the Indonesian Trade Union Alliance Congress (KASBI) along with other civil society elements.
Read: May Day: Labor Alliance Marches from Senayan Park to Parliament
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