IO, Jakarta – Dompet Dhuafa’s medical team fell victim of an assault during the riot in the Sarinah area, Central Jakarta, on Thursday 23 May 2019 at 00.15 a.m. WIB. Dompet Dhuafa Program Director Bambang Suherman stated that the authorities’ aggression against Dompet Dhuafa’s medical team caused them to sustain grave injuries.
Dompet Dhuafa made the following “statement of stance” in relation to the riots following the protest held in Sarinah on 22 May 2019:
1. As a humanitarian agency, Dompet Dhuafa sent in its medical team for humanitarian purposes and strictly adheres to the principle of impartiality. Our involvement in this protest is not based on any political motivation or partisanship for any group whatsoever.
2. It is true that deviant members of the police force assaulted the Dompet Dhuafa medical team on Thursday 23 May 2019 at 00.15 a.m. WIB around Jalan Abdul Muis, Central Jakarta. This assault caused three of our team members to suffer injuries, and it was necessary to take them to the Central Armed Forces Hospital. Apart from the three victims, two of our vehicles become damaged.
3. We regret the excessively repressive action taken by deviant police officers against the medical team and volunteers of a humanitarian agency who were present to be of help to everyone involved, whether protesters, the security officers, or the public in general.
4. We request that the Police and the Armed Forces provide the freest access and protection possible in order to allow humanitarian and medical teams to give help to people in need, in accordance with the provisions of the Geneva Convention of 1949, specifically Article 11, Article 24-27, Article 36, and Article 37 concerning protection for medical officers. (dsy)