A mass protest in front of the Pati regent’s office on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, involving tens of thousands of people from various community groups, turned violent as protesters demanded accountability from Regent Sadewo over remarks they deemed offensive to public aspirations.

Initially peaceful, the rally descended into chaos when Sadewo emerged from the building to publicly apologize. As he stood atop a command vehicle and spoke through a loudspeaker, protesters hurled plastic bottles, sandals, and blunt objects at him.

A video of the incident, widely circulated on social media, showed a disorderly crowd as police from the command vehicle warned, “The crowd has been infiltrated by anarchists!”—mean perpetrators of violence.

Clashes escalated at the front gate when some protesters attempted to topple two gates of the main and side entrances. Police responded by firing tear gas and deploying water cannons, scattering the crowd. Protesters retaliated by throwing bottled water and roof tile fragments at officers.

An ambulance was seen shuttling between the protest site and nearby medical facilities to transport the injured, which included elderly people, children, and police officers. A police vehicle was also set ablaze during the unrest.

The protest drew people from diverse backgrounds, including elderly residents and minors, some of whom were injured by tear gas exposure. Witnesses said tensions peaked around noon when demonstrators surged toward the gates, prompting a police countermeasure.

Despite Sadewo issuing a public apology days before, protesters continued to converge in large numbers at the regency’s administrative center. Authorities reported that the demonstration involved “tens of thousands” of participants.

Order was eventually restored by security forces, but tensions between residents and the local administration remain high. As of press time, neither the Pati administration nor law enforcement agencies had issued further statements regarding the incident.

The violent protest, which drew thousands from various community groups, was reportedly triggered by remarks from Sudewo that critics described as dismissive of public concerns.

Despite the regent’s earlier public apology, tensions remain high in the regency, and security forces are maintaining a heightened presence around government facilities.

Pati council launches inquiry committee

The Pati Legislative Council (DPRD) on Wednesday convened an emergency plenary session and unanimously agreed to form a special committee (Pansus) to exercise its right of inquiry (hak angket) aimed at impeaching Regent Sudewo, following a massive protest that descended into violence outside the regent’s office.

All political factions, including Gerindra, Sudewo’s own party, as well as the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the United Development Party (PPP), the National Awakening Party (PKB), the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the Democratic Party, and Golkar, voiced support for the motion.

“Observing the public unrest and the fact that many residents have been harmed, we unanimously decided to use our right of inquiry and establish the special committee,” the DPRD leadership announced during the heated session.

The sudden meeting was called just hours after a large rally turned chaotic in front of the regent’s office.

“We in the PDI-P are taking the people’s aspirations seriously and support the move to impeach Regent Sudewo,” PDI-P faction secretary Danu Iksan told reporters.

The plenary session itself was hastily arranged, with invitations issued only earlier in the day. The council has yet to detail the next steps or the timeline for the impeachment.