Indonesians protest cops' brutality

Viral footage of a tactical van crashing into a young delivery driver in Indonesia’s capital before rolling over his body has sparked renewed anger against a police force long known for its heavy-handed tactics.

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Jakarta –

Seven officers inside the van were detained for violating the police ethics code at the protest against low wages and financial perks for lawmakers, while the president pledged an investigation.

But protests have erupted across the country over the incident, the latest in a string of cases where Indonesia’s militarised police force – the Mobile Brigade Corps, or Brimob – has been accused of overreaction leading to civilian deaths.

“Brimob is actually a militaristic police force with their own heavy weapons. It is historically used to deal with armed movements but, over the past decade more, often assigned to work against street protests,” said Human Rights Watch’s Andreas Harsono.