LIST OF DETAINEES FROM THE BANDUNG MASS ACTION
TNI Bill Cluster
Comrades MTH and MSA
Amid the roaring protests against the TNI Bill in Bandung (20-21 March 2025), [Indonesian National Armed Forces Law, which re-instates a direction of paramilitary rule in civil society], these two friends were initially just passing through on their way home. However, seeing the fiery spirit of the youth that night, they parked their motorbike and joined the demonstration. Before reaching home, they briefly stopped at CK Taman Radio because MSA could no longer hold his urge.
Unexpectedly, a month later, they were charged by the West Java Police as suspects of assault and property damage—based solely on CCTV footage from the store. After serving a one-year sentence, they are set to be released on January 3, 2026. Let us prepare to welcome their return with the highest respect!
Wrongful Arrest and Torture Cluster
Comrades Very Kurniaa Kusuma, Joy Erlando, EY, MVA, MSAG, MRA, MJM, JAR
Eight young people faced tragic circumstances. They had no intention of joining the August 30, 2025, protest, yet cruel fate implicated them in allegations of throwing objects and assaulting police officers. Their arrests were as heartbreaking as their stories: Very was picked up while buying cigarettes near the protest area, and JAR was arrested while eating fried rice. The others experienced similarly unfortunate detentions, victims of wrongful arrests at the wrong place and wrong time.
Their suffering didn’t end there. Behind bars, tales of brutal torture awaited. Reports emerged of mistreatment during arrest, transport to the police station, and intense interrogation. Attend the trials of these eight defendants, and help uphold the voice of truth until the end.
Arbitrary Arrest Cluster
Comrades AOD, AF, PRA, WAR
The tragic death of Affan Kurniawan (an online motorcycle driver run over by a Brimob vehicle) on August 30, 2025, deeply affected four friends, prompting them to voice their outrage. Even before engaging in any protest, they were detained by police. In the parking lot, before they could even finish parking, they were grabbed by the hands of the law. One of them was accused of carrying a Molotov cocktail. They were arrested without resistance, silenced before they could speak.
Random Arrest Cluster
Comrades WH & RFA
Nighttime in Bandung has long been far from peaceful, filled with violence—robberies, gang fights, and clashes between mass organizations. So, W occasionally carried a sharp object while working as a parking attendant near the DPRD–Dukomsel area for self-protection. However, on the night of the August 30, 2025 protest, he was suddenly arrested. Authorities pinned multiple charges on him, merely for carrying a defensive tool.
Like W, R—who happened to pass through the protest area on August 30 after finishing work—was stopped by the officers on guard. Without clear reason, he too was arrested, solely for carrying a sharp object he kept that night for self-protection, fearing that at any moment he might be attacked by mass organizations, gangs, or similar groups.
Digital Pursuit Cluster
Comrades Rifa Rahnabila, Arfa Febrianto, Rifal Zhafran, Deni Ruhiyat, Rizky Fauzi, Azriel Agung, Yusuf Miraj, Moch Sidik, Muhibuddin
The tragedy of Affan Kurniawan’s death by a riot vehicle on August 29, 2025, ignited the hearts of Rifa and six friends, driving them to protest for fading justice. Like many young people, they documented the events on private Instagram Stories—a personal archive of their activism. Yet, cyber authorities quickly moved to silence them. Rifa and her friends were accused of incitement. Elsewhere, Sidiq (“Acil”) was arrested for a social media post, falsely accused of burning a flag, even though he only filmed banners. Muhibuddin, an online motorcycle driver, was also detained merely for livestreaming on TikTok during the protest.
UU ITE Vague Article Cluster
Comrades Muhammad Zaki, AY & MAK
Zaki and AY’s stories reflect irony. They merely wanted to livestream the August 29, 2025 protest on TikTok, similar to mainstream media coverage. Isn’t it the public’s right to know? Yet, in the authorities’ eyes, this was a serious violation. Their open phone screens were deemed as breaching ITE Law articles. Freedom of expression was stifled, replaced by criminal threats.
MAK was a direct victim, hit by a rubber bullet during the protest. His injuries, stitched by street paramedics and verified in court, were clear evidence of the violence he endured. Instead of justice, when he shared his ordeal on TikTok, authorities treated it as incitement.
Admin Hunt Cluster
Comrades M. Ainun Komarullah, Andi Muh. Ashabufirdaus, Dana Ditya Pratama
Komar, Dana, and Andi openly acknowledged being admins of the Black Block Zone propaganda account. They have their own views and methods of voicing protest against the state. Now, they face charges under ITE Law regarding SARA (ethnic, religious, racial, or group-related issues). The content they produced was clearly institutional criticism and protest, not attacks on ethnicity, religion, race, or groups. They are ready to take responsibility for their actual actions. However, regarding false and unfounded accusations, they will not remain silent—truth will be revealed openly in court.
Political Expression Hunt Cluster
Comrades AD, TA, RF, RS, JF
AD, TA, RF, RS, and JF are university students in Bandung. They hold different perspectives on political reality, responding and expressing their concerns. For them, repeated peaceful protests ignored by the state were no longer enough; alternative methods were needed to voice resistance against state brutality. During their political expression, they were arrested and faced multiple charges—whose veracity will be tested in court. Ironically, since their arrest, their fundamental rights as suspects have been ignored: access to legal aid was hindered, families intimidated, and legal protections denied.
Political Expression Hunt Cluster II
Comrades GH, RM, HS, MN, MJF
Similar to the case of AD, TA, RF, RS, and JF, these five defendants were detained solely for their political activities, deemed a threat by the state. They openly admitted involvement in several protests categorized as “violent,” which they understood as protest tactics. Their detention highlights how differing political expression is immediately framed as dangerous, with no room for dialogue or understanding the root of their resistance.
Text & full pictures from the imprisoned comrades can be found here on corporate media:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DSqzOzCEzQj/?img_index=17&igsh=MWljd3NtbzlhODdwZg
