Indonesian National Police praised for managing August 27 protests

Members of the Civil Society Coalition have expressed appreciation for the Indonesian National Police (Polri) regarding their security management during public demonstrations on August 27, 2026. During a discussion in South Jakarta on September 2, 2026, experts noted that the police played a vital role in maintaining democratic space by ensuring the protests remained peaceful.

Syaufuan Rozi, a senior researcher at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), observed a shift in how police handle mass dynamics, noting their ability to distinguish between legitimate public aspirations and groups seeking to exploit the situation. He suggested that conflict mitigation could be improved by avoiding direct confrontation with disruptive groups, such as Anarcho elements, by strategically withdrawing forces to prevent escalation.

Public policy observer Faisal Lohy also commended the police for their role as a “spearhead of democracy” in ensuring safe expression. However, he emphasized the need for improved early detection of groups prone to causing riots. Lohy also highlighted the challenge of managing mass escalation driven by the rapid spread of information on social media, calling for stronger preventive and pre-emptive measures.