Indonesia identifies 1,000 suspects in deadly protests

ANKARA

Indonesian police have identified nearly 1,000 individuals suspected of involvement in last month’s violent protests across the country, local media reported Thursday.

Commissioner General Syahar Diantono, head of the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency, said that 936 people — including 295 minors — have been named as suspects in connection with last month’s violent protests, according to The Jakarta Globe.

“Law enforcement is being applied only to those involved in riots, not to citizens who protested peacefully,” he said.

At least 10 people were killed and dozens injured — including police officers — during the protests, which initially began in opposition to proposed increases in lawmakers’ allowances. The situation escalated after a motorcycle taxi driver was struck and killed by an armored police vehicle in Jakarta on Aug. 28, sparking riots in several provinces.

In Jakarta, demonstrators torched police stations and government buildings, destroyed dozens of vehicles, shattered windows, leveled guard posts, and injured officers by hurling stones.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid