TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The International May Day rally in front of the Central Java Governor's Office in Semarang on Thursday, May 1, 2025, ended in chaos. Police arrested several individuals suspected of being provocateurs.
Semarang Police Chief Commissioner M. Syahduddi stated that the arrested individuals were suspected to be affiliated with an anarchist group and included students who had infiltrated the labor demonstration. "We are still collecting data and statements to determine the exact number of individuals arrested," he said.
He explained that the rally spanning from morning until evening had proceeded peacefully and without incident. According to him, as the laborers were concluding their demonstration, a group of individuals, allegedly linked to the anarchist group and including students, began provoking the officers who were securing the event.
He further detailed that the infiltrating group incited the unrest by burning tires and throwing stones and bottles at the officers. Subsequently, the police dispersed the segment of the demonstration identified as anarchist.
Central Java Regional Police Public Relations Head Commissioner Artanto affirmed that the initial labor demonstration had been peaceful and orderly. "Even the aspirations of the workers were directly received by the Central Java Governor," he said.
The police are still investigating the motive behind the provocation by the group suspected of infiltrating the labor demonstration.
Earlier in the afternoon, police dispersed the Labor Day rally in front of the Central Java Governor's Office in Semarang, following a suspected provocation by a group of individuals dressed in black who had mingled with the laborers. These individuals reportedly joined the main crowd at approximately 3 p.m. The disruption commenced as the laborers were in the process of dispersing after concluding their demonstration.
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