Imam Hamdi, Jakarta – The families of people who died during the May 22 post-election rights in Jakarta went to the offices of the Victims and Witness Protection Agency (KPSK) in East Jakarta on Monday June 17. They were asking the agency for protection because they felt threatened and intimidated by police.
The lawyer representing the families of the victims, Wisnu Rakadita, said that he was given power of attorney by four families of the riot victims to present a request for protection with the LPSK because they felt threatened.
Rakadita has been given power of attorney by four families, namely the family of Muhammad Harun Al Rasyid (15), Farhan Syafero (31), Adam Nurian (19) and Sandro (32). “They are feeling psychologically harassed”, said Rakadita at the KPSK offices.
According to Rakadita, the families of the victims have often been approached by certain parties, including the police. Threats were even made, he said, when the families picked up the bodies of the victims.
In addition to this, the families also felt threatened because a person they suspect to be a police officer asked them to cancel a plan to report alleged human rights violations during the riots to the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM).
“We suspect the ones making the threats are from the police. It is because of this that we are asking for protection from the KPSK”, he said.
Although he has only received power of attorney from four families, Rakadita will submit a report with the KPSK on behalf of all the victims that died in the May 22 riots.
A total of 10 people have been reported dead. “Nine in Jakarta and one in Pontianak [West Kalimantan]”, he said.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was “Merasa Diancam Polisi, Keluarga Korban Tewas Saat Kerusuhan Lapor ke LPSK”.]
