Amnesty International Condemns Police Killing of 14-Year-Old in Indonesia

Amnesty International has condemned the alleged killing of a 14-year-old boy by a police officer in Tual, Maluku province, Indonesia. The organization described the incident as an extrajudicial killing. According to reports, Arianto Tawakal was fatally injured on February 19, 2023, by a member of the National Police’s Mobile Brigade during an encounter related to illegal street racing.

Usman Hamid, the executive director of Amnesty International Indonesia, stated that this incident represents a serious violation of human rights. Reports from the local news outlet Tempo indicate that the officer involved, identified as Masias Siahaya, was monitoring street racing when the events unfolded.

Arianto was riding a motorcycle with his older brother, Nasri Karim, when they encountered Masias. According to Nasri, the officer emerged from behind a tree and swung his tactical helmet, striking Arianto in the face. The blow reportedly caused Arianto to lose control of the motorcycle, leading to a crash that resulted in severe head injuries. Following the incident, Arianto was transported to Karel Sadsuitubun Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead due to brain hemorrhaging. Nasri sustained a broken arm and is currently receiving treatment.

The family of Arianto has vehemently denied allegations of their involvement in illegal street racing. Nasri claimed that the motorcycle’s speed increased due to the downhill road, not because of reckless driving. The police, however, contended that Masias had used his helmet to signal the riders, which inadvertently struck Arianto on the temple, causing the fatal crash.

In a statement to the media, Rijik Fikri Tawakal, Arianto’s father, disputed the police’s version of events. He emphasized that his son was struck without warning and challenged claims that there was a crowd at the scene. Rijik expressed his outrage over the treatment of his son after the incident, recalling a disturbing video that circulated online showing Arianto lying on the ground, unconscious and bleeding, as police officers handled him unceremoniously. “What I regret is that they lifted my child like he was an animal,” Rijik remarked.

Amnesty International criticized the police’s initial claims linking Arianto to street racing, drawing parallels to previous cases of police violence in Indonesia, including the death of student Gamma Rizkynata Oktavandy in Semarang. Usman Hamid noted, “This amateurish approach reminds us of the police violence case that claimed the life of a student in Semarang.” In that incident, a police inspector was sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined 200 million rupiah (approximately USD 11,900) for the fatal shooting of Gamma.

Since the incident, Masias has been detained at the Tual Police detention facility. According to Rositah Umasugi, the head of public relations for the Maluku Regional Police, Masias will face both criminal and ethical proceedings. If found guilty, he could be dismissed without honor.

The Tual Police Chief, Whansi Des Asmoro, confirmed that an investigation is ongoing to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident. “We are still examining whether there was indeed illegal street racing at the time, or whether the victim was merely passing by,” he stated, adding that witness accounts suggest there may have been racing vehicles present. The investigation aims to determine whether the officer’s actions adhered to proper procedures.

This tragic incident has drawn attention to issues of police conduct and accountability in Indonesia, highlighting the ongoing concerns over human rights and the treatment of individuals by law enforcement agencies.