JAKARTA, RAKYAT NEWS — Amnesty International Indonesia has called for an independent and transparent investigation into an alleged violent crackdown by security forces on civilian humanitarian volunteers in Krueng Mane, North Aceh, describing the incident as a serious human rights violation.

The incident occurred on Thursday night, December 25, when a convoy of civilians transporting disaster relief supplies to flood-hit Aceh Tamiang was reportedly stopped by a joint team of Indonesian military (TNI) and police officers.

What began as an inspection allegedly escalated into acts of violence against unarmed volunteers.
Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, Usman Hamid, said the incident went far beyond a routine security operation.

“This was not merely a field-level friction, but a grave violation of human rights,” Hamid said in a statement. “Repressive actions allegedly carried out by joint TNI–Police forces against humanitarian volunteers reflect an abuse of power. Civic humanitarian initiatives were met with raids, restrictions on expression, beatings, kicks, and the use of firearms as intimidation.”

According to Amnesty International, circulating visual evidence shows individuals believed to be security personnel assaulting civilians until they collapsed. Some victims reportedly sustained head injuries after being struck with rifle butts. Hamid stressed that such acts constitute excessive use of force that cannot be justified under any legal standard.

“Every citizen has the right to security and to be free from torture or degrading treatment,” he said. “Claims of enforcing order or regulating flags are in no way proportional to the level of violence displayed. When state agents resort to thug-like methods against unarmed civilians, the state fails its duty to protect its people.”
Amnesty International also highlighted that the incident amounted to a violation of the right to humanitarian assistance.