Law and a Sense of Justice

The question now is, how should the law work so that the sense of justice is not injured again? From a legal point of view, the incident of a demonstrator being hit by a police car clearly should not be seen as an ordinary incident. The apparatus involved is still subject to the same rules as civilians, namely Law Number 22 of 2009 concerning Traffic and criminal provisions in the Criminal Code. The principle of equality before the law must be truly implemented. However, simply processing the case in court is not enough to heal the wounds of society. A sense of justice is born when the law is enforced transparently, fairly, and free from intervention. The public needs to see that the legal process is running openly, not shrouded in the excuse of a “normal accident” that covers up the negligence of the apparatus.

This is where the crucial point lies, the law is not just a series of articles, but a promise from the state to protect the people. If that promise fails to be upheld, then the public's sense of justice will collapse and once that sense of justice is lost, the people's trust in the law will also falter.

Closing

The incident of an online motorcycle taxi driver being hit in front of the DPR/MPR is not just a traffic accident. It is a symbol of the unequal relationship between the people and the state. From a legal perspective, this case must be processed fairly and transparently. From a justice perspective, the state must be present to heal the wounds, not only for the victim and their family, but also for the community that witnessed it. If the law only stops on paper while the sense of justice is ignored, then democracy will continue to limp. The state must learn that behind every demonstration there is the voice of the people, and behind every victim there is justice that demands to be upheld. In the end, the law is not just articles, but a promise from the state to protect its citizens. And the sense of justice is not just rhetoric, but the lifeblood of democracy itself.