KontraS records 29 deaths and 4,631 arbitrary arrest victims in Indonesia police rights report
KontraS has accused Indonesia's National Police of continuing excessive force, arbitrary arrests and weak accountability, citing new data on alleged extrajudicial killings and warning that recently enacted police legislation could further expand police powers.
- KontraS recorded 23 alleged extrajudicial killing incidents resulting in 29 deaths between July 2025 and June 2026.
- The organisation said weak accountability has allowed alleged police human rights violations to continue.
- KontraS warned the newly enacted Police Law could significantly broaden police authority.
The Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS) has accused Indonesia's National Police (Polri) of continuing to rely on excessive force and arbitrary law enforcement practices, saying the institution has yet to address a culture of violence and impunity despite repeated public criticism.
The assessment was released on Wednesday to coincide with the 80th National Police Day (Hari Bhayangkara), marked on 1 July, and reviews the force's human rights record between July 2025 and June 2026.
According to KontraS, it documented 23 incidents of extrajudicial killings during the 12-month period, resulting in 29 deaths. Sixteen of the cases involved fatal police shootings, while the remaining nine deaths were attributed to acts of torture.
The organisation also recorded 123 incidents of arbitrary arrest involving 4,631 people. It further documented 19 cases of wrongful arrest that left 14 people injured. Nine of those cases involved torture, one included a police shooting, and another involved inhumane treatment.
KontraS said the figures reflected persistent violations of the principles of proportionality, necessity and legality, which are intended to guide police conduct during law enforcement operations.
The rights group also argued that weak accountability within the police has contributed to repeated incidents of extrajudicial killings, saying criminal, disciplinary and ethical sanctions have not been applied effectively against officers found to have committed violations.
Protest response under scrutiny
The findings come after a year in which police conduct during mass demonstrations drew sustained criticism from human rights groups.
KontraS and other civil society organisations previously alleged that security forces used excessive force during nationwide protests in late August 2025. According to the organisation, the demonstrations and their aftermath resulted in more than 4,100 arbitrary arrests, hundreds of injuries and multiple deaths. It also reported cases of alleged enforced disappearances after protesters were detained without families or lawyers being informed of their whereabouts.
In December 2025, Amnesty International released an investigation concluding that Indonesian police used unlawful force against protesters during demonstrations held between 25 August and 1 September 2025.
The report, based on authenticated videos and witness interviews, documented officers using batons, water cannon and tear gas in ways Amnesty said violated international standards. Amnesty said at least 4,194 protesters were arrested during the demonstrations, while rights groups documented more than 1,000 victims of police violence.
Separately, a joint investigation by six Indonesian state human rights institutions, published in April 2026, concluded that security forces committed widespread human rights violations during the same protests. The report documented 11 deaths, the detention of more than 5,000 people and allegations of beatings, electric shocks, arbitrary detention and other forms of abuse. The investigators urged the government and police to review the handling of the demonstrations and ensure accountability.
Concerns over new Police Law
KontraS also criticised the newly enacted Police Law, which was passed by Indonesia's House of Representatives on 9 June 2026.
The organisation said the legislation was approved through a rapid legislative process with limited public participation. It argued that several provisions expand police authority beyond traditional policing functions and allow officers to hold positions outside the police institution without resigning from the force.
Among the new responsibilities assigned to Polri is the protection of national vital objects, including strategic infrastructure, natural resources and activities considered significant to national stability.
KontraS also expressed concern over a clause allowing police to perform "other duties in accordance with prevailing laws and regulations", saying it could enable future governments to broaden police powers through additional legislation.
Calls for stronger accountability
Marking this year's National Police Day, KontraS urged Polri to abandon what it described as a culture of violence and impunity by strengthening oversight and accountability mechanisms, particularly those relating to human rights.
The organisation called on the police to improve internal supervision, enforce disciplinary and ethical sanctions against officers who commit violations and pursue criminal proceedings where appropriate.
The latest report follows similar findings published by KontraS in previous years. In its assessment covering July 2024 to June 2025, the organisation recorded 602 incidents of alleged police violence, including 411 police shootings, and warned that the use of force remained a persistent concern within Indonesia's law enforcement system.
