The Central Coordinator of the All-Indonesian Student Executive Board Alliance (BEM SI) Herianto admitted that he was kicked by the police during the disbandment of a demonstration next to the Arjuna Wijaya Statue, Gambir, Central Jakarta, Monday (22/7/2024) evening. As a result, Herianto is now being treated at a hospital in Central Jakarta. "I was given an IV drip because I was tired and had stomach cramps. I was kicked during the clash with the police last night," said Herianto when contacted by Kompas.com on Tuesday (23/7/2024). Not only Herianto, at least three other student protesters were also treated in hospital due to clashes with the police. In fact, one of the students was said to have suffered a head injury that required stitches.

"There was a friend whose head was leaking (to the point of) having to be stitched. Then, there was a friend who suddenly had a panic attack and fainted (because) there was also someone who had stomach acid," said the Coordinator of the BEM SI Women's Forum, Finkan Sri Pratiwi Rambe, when contacted. In addition to the three people, Finkan said, there were several student protesters who were also injured in the clash, but were not hospitalized. Currently, BEM SI is still recording the number of students who are being treated. According to Finkan, several participants were injured after being beaten by police while trying to defend themselves next to the Arjuna Wijaya Statue. "It could be a blow from a piece of wood, it could also be a throw, because yesterday we had a shirt so we didn't have time for that, the field conditions were uncontrolled," he continued.

Meanwhile, Central Jakarta Police Chief Kombes Pol Susatyo Purnomo Condro denied that any of his members had carried out the beating. However, Susatyo confirmed that his party pushed the masses when trying to disperse the demonstration. "There was no beating, there was just dispersing and pushing because it was already past 18.00 WIB," said Susatyo when confirmed. According to Susatyo, the police moved forward because the crowd refused to disperse despite repeated warnings. Susatyo also said that one of his members was rushed to the Kramat Jati Police Hospital because he was hit by a stone in his right eye during the action.

Meanwhile, in yesterday's demonstration, the masses expressed criticism of President Joko Widodo's 10-year government. The masses demanded to be able to meet the President directly. If Jokowi is unwilling, the masses ask that anyone from the Palace meet and listen to their demands directly. However, until the masses were forcibly dispersed by the police, not a single person from the Palace met with the masses from the BEM SI alliance. The demonstration turned chaotic when police tried to disperse the crowd. Water cannons were used and a platoon of police with shields and batons were deployed.