Indonesian protesters continued their fiery demonstrations on Saturday, setting ablaze regional parliament buildings in West Nusa Tenggara, Pekalongan, and Cirebon, local media reported, as unrest that began earlier this week over lawmakers’ pay and a fatal police incident escalated further.
The violence, which has already killed at least three people, poses an ongoing test for President Prabowo Subianto, with authorities struggling to contain widespread anger following the death of a motorcycle delivery driver struck by a police vehicle in Jakarta.
In Makassar, South Sulawesi, a Friday evening fire at the city council building left three dead, with two victims perishing at the scene and one in hospital, said Rahmat Mappatoba, secretary of the Makassar city council.
He claimed protesters stormed and ignited the building, trapping victims inside.
The disaster management agency confirmed five injuries, two from jumping out of the burning structure, while local media reported an unconfirmed fourth death.
Beyond Makassar, Saturday saw parliament buildings torched in three provinces, with looters in Cirebon stealing office equipment and police deploying tear gas in Pekalongan and West Nusa Tenggara, according to local reports.
In Bandung, commercial properties, including a bank and restaurant, were burned on Friday.
Jakarta protesters targeted the Mobile Brigade Corps (Brimob) headquarters, hurling stones and firecrackers, met with police tear gas, while Tempo news reported over 200 protester injuries and seven officers detained for questioning over driver Affan Kurniawan’s death.
President Prabowo Subianto, urging calm, ordered a probe into the unrest and visited the slain driver’s family, while National police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo vowed firm action against lawbreakers.
“This is different than other recent protests,” said Juan Robin of Narasi, highlighting growing public frustration with police and government.
Jakarta’s transit systems, including mass rapid transit and Transjakarta buses, faced disruptions Saturday near protest sites, as demonstrations show no immediate signs of abating.