IO, Jakarta – Ambulances and a Dompet Dhuafa medical team were victims of an attack by the police during riots in the Sarinah area, Central Jakarta, at 00:15 a.m. WIB, Thursday, May 23, 2019.
Imam Rulyawan, Managing Director of Dompet Dhuafa Philanthropy, confirmed the incident. In his official statement, Imam said that the repressive action occurred on Thursday (5/23/2019) at 00:15 a.m. WIB around Jalan Abdul Muis, Central Jakarta. As a result, three members were hurt and two Dompet Dhuafa vehicles were damaged.
“It is true that there have been repressive actions by police officers against a Dompet Dhuafa medical team on Thursday, May 23, 2019 at 00.15 in the morning which resulted in three medical team members being rushed to RSPAD and the destruction of our two vehicles,” the Imam said in a written statement Thursday (23/5/2019).
Imam regretted the repressive actions of the police which he considered to be excessive. Moreover, it was carried out on medical teams and humanitarian volunteers who helped various parties during the demonstrations on May 22, 2019.
Imam claimed that Dompet Dhuafa had no political aims or partiality in their involvement during the demonstrations.
“As a humanitarian institution, Dompet Dhuafa fielded a medical team on the basis of humanity and upheld the principle of impartiality,” said Imam.
He asked the police and TNI to provide the widest possible access and protection for the humanitarian team and the medical team. According to him it is regulated in the 1949 Geneva Convention article 11, 24-27, and 37 concerning the protection of health workers.
The head of the Police Public Relations Division, Inspector General of Police M. Iqbal said, the incident was a risk in the midst of a riot situation. When the police were in control of the situation, someone was hit and things were damaged.
Iqbal explained, it wasn’t only Dompet Dhuafa, but there were also motorbikes which were burned and damaged. Therefore, the police will conduct periodic investigations.
“We are in control of the situation; the risk is sometimes people get hit and sometimes it things gets damaged. My friend, his motorcycle was burned, in principle, if it is proven, we will carry out periodic investigations,” Iqbal said at the Coordinating Minister for Politics, Thursday, 23 May, 2019. ” “Indeed, in this situation, friends also have to keep their distance, so that other groups keep their distance. For example, if you dare to enter the place of riots,” he said.
Metro Jaya Police Public Relations Chief Police Commissioner Argo Yuwono added that he would carry out an investigation on the alleged police officers who caused the Dompet Dhuafa medical officers to be injured and hospitalized. “We will investigate what the truth of the matter is first later,” said Argo.
Massive demonstrations took place in Jakarta on May 21-22 2019. Masses took to the streets after they refused to accept what they believed to be fraudulent election results. Especially, when at the same time, more than 600 KPPS officers, Supervisory Committee and Police had died during the election. (dsy)