DPR Member Urges Police to Identify Unknown Masses Behind Yogyakarta Demo Unrest

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - MY Esti Wijayati, the Deputy Chair of the House of Representatives’ Commission X, has urged police to reveal the identity of unidentified masses suspected of instigating the unrest during a demonstration in Yogyakarta on November 10, 2026.

Esti called on law enforcement to investigate the possibility of specific groups intentionally being present to incite disorder after the peaceful demonstration had concluded.

“We also ask the police to be transparent regarding the unidentified masses engaging in anarchic behavior, including whether such groups aimed to provoke chaos following the peaceful expression of aspirations,” Esti stated to Kompas.com on Saturday (November 14, 2026).

According to Esti, it is vital for the police to disclose the identities and motives of these groups, so that the response to the unrest does not unduly target peaceful demonstrators.

She emphasized that police must differentiate between individuals committing acts of violence, peaceful protesters, bystanders, and those merely witnessing the events.

“The chaos between security forces and the crowd occurred in public spaces and various strategic locations, making it likely that innocent citizens, including students, were present or caught in the midst of the unrest,” said the PDI-P politician.

Moreover, Esti requested the Yogyakarta Regional Police to enforce the law transparently and professionally.

She called for an investigation into reports of random arrests and violence against demonstrators.

“Reports of arbitrary and sporadic arrests need to be investigated, cross-referencing testimonies from students, witnesses, and incident recordings,” she stated.

Esti also called for legal assistance for those still detained, as well as access for universities to support their students.

Unrest in Yogyakarta

Earlier reports indicated that the student and civil society demonstrations in Yogyakarta, held in commemoration of Heroes Day on November 10, 2026, erupted into chaos later that evening.

The unrest occurred after some of the crowd chose to remain at the demonstration site.

Clashes between the crowd and security forces subsequently spread from the DIY Provincial Council building to Malioboro, Tugu Golong-gilig, and the Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Roundabout.

In response to the unrest, police fired tear gas and deployed a water cannon. Meanwhile, the crowd retaliated by throwing stones and fireworks at the authorities.

The DIY Police announced that they had released 154 individuals who were previously detained.

Additionally, three others remain in custody, with two testing positive for narcotics and one being designated a suspect for carrying dangerous items.