Asian Games: Indonesia police kill dozens in criminal crackdown

19 August 2018 08:54 am - 13 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Indonesian police have fatally shot dozens of "petty criminals" in the lead up the 2018 Asian Games, rights group Amnesty International says, BBC reported.

The group condemned the deaths, calling for an investigation into the "shoot first and ask questions later policy".

At least 77 people have reportedly been shot dead since January, Amnesty said, with 31 deaths in police raids meant to clean up host cities for the Games.

Authorities have said that people were shot after resisting the police.

The raids began in July with high-ranking officials telling their officers "don't hesitate to take firm action", the BBC's Indonesian service reported.

The two-week-long Asian Games, which starts on Saturday, will take place in the capital Jakarta and the South Sumatran city of Palembang.

Authorities are deploying 100,000 police and soldiers for the 18th annual event, which will see some 17,000 athletes compete between 18 August and 2 September in the largest multi-sporting event outside of the Olympics.

"The authorities promised to improve security for all. Instead, we have seen the police shooting and killing dozens of people with almost zero accountability for the deaths," head of Amnesty Indonesia, Usman Hamid, said.

"The hosting of an international sporting event must not come at the price of abandoning human rights."

The killings peaked in the first half of July, when 11 people were shot dead in greater Jakarta and 41 others shot in the legs.

The total number of those killed and accused of petty crimes in 2018 represents a 64% increase on the same period in 2017.

"These shocking figures reveal a clear pattern of unnecessary and excessive force by the police," Mr Hamid said in a statement.

Thousands of people have been arrested and hundreds detained in an effort to ensure the safety of visiting tourists, according National Police Chief General Tito Karnavian.

"In the last month... I have ordered my personnel to finish off all networks of pick-pockets and bag-snatchers," he told reporters in late July.

"If [criminals] fight back, don't hesitate. Finish them off," General Karnavian said.

The police operation is expected to end with the Games, but many people on the streets of Jakarta would not be opposed to the drive continuing, BBC Indonesian's Heyder Affan reports.

"I agree with the police action because it's [otherwise] very dangerous for the people," said one resident in the capital's old town.

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Comments - 13

ANTON Sunday, 19 August 2018 09:02 AM

GENERAL KARNAVIAN !!! PLEASE COME TO SRILANKA, WE URGENTLY NEED YOUR HELP.

ram Sunday, 19 August 2018 11:05 AM

anton have u slipped ur memory. we had same situation 3 years back. specially in to tamils.

STRONG CEYLON CITIZEN Sunday, 19 August 2018 09:09 AM

BRAVO INDONESIAN POLICE GOOD LESSON FOR OUR SRI LANKAN UNEDUCATED POLITICIANS OUR POLICE WHY DONT THEY CARRY DUTY LIKE THIS FOR CRIMINALS AND THE BODY GUARDS OF UNEDUCATED POLITICIANS.

Shan Wickramsinge Sunday, 19 August 2018 09:17 AM

Learn...Learn....Learn Lanka

ANTON Sunday, 19 August 2018 09:21 AM

HERE IN OUR DHARMA NEESIA , CRIMINALS GIVE ORDERS TO GENERALS.

Waco Sunday, 19 August 2018 09:24 AM

Department of police Sri Lanka, please make a serious note.

Observer Sunday, 19 August 2018 09:47 AM

Also in Sri lanka these types of barbarian methods were used some time ago. But, have the so called "crimes and criminals" reduced at all. No!. In civilised countries they use better methods.

Jan Sunday, 19 August 2018 10:48 AM

Very rational comment. I believe sri Lanka is a bit more civilized now a days.

John Sunday, 19 August 2018 01:12 PM

No, they are still shooting people for 'attempting to escape'.

Vernon Sunday, 19 August 2018 10:46 AM

Amnesty International is only interested in the rights of a few individuals. When the rights of a large number of citizens are deprived in trying to safeguard that of a few, can any government allow it. AI should concentrate on the larger picture than on petty incidents.

Chokobalitis Sunday, 19 August 2018 10:46 AM

If GENERAL KARNAVIAN was posted in Sri Lanka i am sure there will be much less parliament MP's all would have been shot on site hahaha.

Memories Sunday, 19 August 2018 10:52 AM

Actually SL did have an era in the 80’s during the JVP uprising where thousands of innocent people were killed.It appears our people have very short memories...

Sammy Sunday, 19 August 2018 02:19 PM

Autocracy prevailing in Indonesia!

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Asian Games: Indonesia police kill dozens in criminal crackdown

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