An instruction letter from the North Sumatra Province Coordination Board of the Islamic Student Association (Badko HMI) is circulating, calling for simultaneous protests across North Sumatra on Monday, September 1, 2025.

The main issue of this simultaneous HMI action is to demand the removal of Police General Listyo Sigit Prabowo from his position as Head of the Indonesian National Police (Kapolri) and reform of the National Police Law.

The instruction letter, which circulated among media, was addressed to all HMI Branch Boards in North Sumatra.

The letter stated, “We instruct all ranks of the HMI branch boards and all HMI cadres throughout North Sumatra to take action at each District/Municipal Police station, with the main issue being the removal of Listyo Sigit Prabowo as National Police Chief and reform of the National Police Law.”

The reason given for this demand is related to a tactical vehicle of the Police Mobile Brigade that ran over an online motorcycle taxi driver, resulting in his death.

“In connection with the incident of a crowd of demonstrators being hit by a Police Barracuda tactical vehicle on August 28, 2025 in Jakarta, which resulted in a fatality, this has violated the values of humanity and human rights that are the principles of a democratic state,” the letter stated.

Islamic Student Association

The Islamic Student Association is a modern student-led organization that emerged in the late 20th century on university campuses, primarily in Western countries, to provide a supportive community for Muslim students. Its history is rooted in offering spaces for prayer, fostering religious understanding, and promoting interfaith dialogue within the academic environment.

North Sumatra

North Sumatra is a province on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, historically home to the powerful Batak kingdoms and the influential Srivijaya and Malayu empires. Its most famous cultural site is Lake Toba, the largest volcanic lake on Earth, which was formed by a supervolcanic eruption around 74,000 years ago. The region is also known for its unique indigenous Batak culture and traditional architecture.

Indonesian National Police

The Indonesian National Police (POLRI) is the national law enforcement agency of Indonesia, formally separated from the military in 1999 to establish a more independent and civilian-focused police force. Its history, however, dates back to the Dutch colonial era, evolving through various forms during the Japanese occupation and the early years of Indonesian independence.

National Police Law

The National Police Law is not a place or cultural site, but a legal framework that establishes the organization, duties, and powers of a country’s police force. Its history is tied to the development of the modern state, often being enacted or reformed to define the role of law enforcement in society and to regulate its conduct.

Police Mobile Brigade

The Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) is the special operations and paramilitary unit of the Indonesian National Police, established in 1945. It has a long history of being deployed for counter-terrorism, riot control, and handling high-risk security operations throughout the country.

Police Barracuda tactical vehicle

The Police Barracuda is a tactical armored vehicle used by law enforcement agencies for high-risk operations, such as SWAT responses and riot control. Its history is rooted in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, developed to provide police with enhanced protection and mobility in dangerous urban environments. These vehicles are often built on commercial truck chassis and modified with advanced armor and communication systems.

Jakarta

Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia, located on the northwest coast of Java. Founded in the 4th century as Sunda Kelapa, it later became the center of the Dutch East India Company under the name Batavia in the 17th century. It was officially renamed Jakarta after Indonesia declared its independence in 1945.