Indonesia Protests Escalate Nationwide: Deadly Clashes, Arrests, and Criticism Over Politician Perks and Police Crackdown
In the Indonesian city of Makassar, the provincial council building was engulfed by flames on Friday evening, resulting in at least three fatalities and five hospitalizations, according to local officials. The blaze continued into the night, turning the area an ominous orange hue as seen on television broadcasts.
By Saturday morning, rescuers had recovered three bodies from the scene, while five individuals were admitted to hospitals with injuries ranging from burns to fractures sustained after jumping from the building. Fadli Tahar, a disaster management official, confirmed these details.
Simultaneously, protests erupted in other cities across Indonesia, including Bandung and Surabaya. In Bandung, a regional parliament was set ablaze, but no casualties were reported. Meanwhile, protesters in Surabaya stormed the regional police headquarters following incidents of destruction and vehicle torching. Security forces responded with tear gas and water cannons, while demonstrators retaliated with fireworks and makeshift weapons.
The unrest began five days ago in Jakarta, triggered by reports that each of the 580 lawmakers receive a monthly housing allowance amounting to 50 million rupiah ($3,075), on top of their salaries. Introduced last year, this allowance is nearly ten times the minimum wage in Jakarta.
Critics argue that the new allowance is not only exorbitant but also insensitive given the current economic climate, characterized by rising living costs, taxes, and unemployment.
The protests gained momentum following the death of 21-year-old Affan Kurniawan, a ride-hailing driver, during a rally in Jakarta on Thursday. A viral video on social media appeared to show his death after an armored car from the National Police’s Mobile Brigade unit allegedly plowed through the crowd, striking and running over him.
Clashes between riot police and protesters have been reported in numerous cities across Indonesia, including Medan, Solo, Yogyakarta, Magelang, Malang, Bengkulu, Pekanbaru, and Manokwari in the easternmost Papua region.
According to the National Commission on Human Rights, approximately 951 protesters were arrested in Jakarta alone by Thursday. Authorities reported about 25 officers hospitalized with severe injuries due to attacks by protesters in Jakarta. The National Commission on Human Rights estimates that the number of injured individuals on the community side is significantly higher.
Amnesty International issued a statement Saturday, criticizing the Indonesian government for suppressing free speech through crackdowns on public protests. Usman Hamid, the Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, urged authorities to release immediately and unconditionally anyone detained solely for exercising their right to protest. He also stated, “No one should lose their life while exercising their right to protest.”
Authorities have confirmed that seven members of the police motor brigade linked to the death in Jakarta have been apprehended and questioned.