TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The police have named Cho Yong Gi, a student at the University of Indonesia, as a suspect in the tumult during the May Day labor demonstration in 2025. The police stated that Cho did not disperse immediately despite being ordered three times.
Cho was arrested along with three other medical staff. He is a student of the Philosophy program at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, University of Indonesia. This 2022 freshman was present at the May Day demonstration as a medical team volunteer.
He wore full medical gear, including a helmet with a Red Cross emblem, a medical team flag, and medical supplies in his bag. Cho Yong Gi was responsible for providing first aid to demonstrators injured during the protest.
During the May Day demonstration, Cho was arrested along with 13 others by the police, making a total of 14 people named as suspects. "There was an anarchic demonstration in front of the DPR/MPR RI building. Out of the 14 individuals involved, 13 have been elevated to suspect status, and summons letters have been issued to them," said the Head of Public Information Sub-Division of the Jakarta Metro Police, Chief Police Commissioner Reonald Simanjuntak.
Cho Yong Gi and three medical volunteers were charged with Articles 212, 216, and 218 of the Criminal Code. These articles include Article 212, which addresses resistance against an officer performing their lawful duties; Article 216, which addresses the offense of disobeying orders from authorized officers; and Article 218, which addresses defamation of the president and vice president.
The Chairperson of the Philosophy Program at the University of Indonesia, Ikhaputri Widiantini, expressed concern over naming Cho and his three colleagues as suspects. She stated that Cho's actions during the May Day demonstration were part of his citizens' rights and humanitarian duties.
Ikhaputri hopes the Jakarta Metro Police will review the case objectively and fairly. "We took into account our student's position and the integrity of the humanitarian duties he was carrying out at the time," said Ikhaputri.
The Advocacy Team for Democracy (TAUD) Belly Satnio views naming Cho and other medical volunteers as suspects as a form of criminalization and restriction of civil space for societies engaging in peaceful protests.
Yudono Yanuar and Oyuk Ivani Siagian contributed to the writing of this article
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