Protests across Indonesia have surged following the death of Affan Kurniawan, a 21-year-old motorcycle ride-sharing driver killed by a police vehicle during demonstrations in Jakarta.
Initially sparked by grievances over lawmakers’ high housing allowances, low wages, and job scarcity, the unrest has spread to cities like Bandung, Surabaya, and Makassar, with thousands demanding accountability for police actions and broader economic reforms.
The incident, marking a significant challenge for President Prabowo Subianto’s administration as it nears its one-year anniversary, has led to violent clashes, economic disruptions, and a growing public outcry against perceived police brutality and systemic inequality.
On Friday, demonstrators, including motorcycle drivers in signature green jackets, students, and civilians, gathered outside Jakarta’s police headquarters and the House of Representatives, throwing rocks, firecrackers, and Molotov cocktails while chanting “Killer! Killer!”
In response, police deployed tear gas and crowd-control vehicles, with reports of fires set to road barriers and a legislative building in Bandung.
In Makassar, a police post was torched, reflecting the escalating tensions.
“We demand justice for Affan, for the perpetrators who ran him over to be tried as fairly as possible, and to be fired from their institution,” said Muzakir, a 52-year-old driver, echoing demands for a transparent investigation into Kurniawan’s death.
President Prabowo Subianto, expressing shock at the “excessive actions of the officers,” visited Kurniawan’s family to offer condolences and promised a thorough probe, with seven Mobile Brigade Corps members already suspended for violating ethics.
Despite his calls for calm, protests persisted, with students demanding the release of detained demonstrators and accountability for police superiors.
The unrest has shaken Indonesia’s economy, with the rupiah falling 0.9% to 16,495 and the stock index dropping 1.5% to its lowest since August 12.
Businesses shifted to remote work, and schools dismissed students early as the military was deployed in some areas, raising fears of further chaos if tensions are not addressed.