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13h ago

Indonesia Unrest Intensifies After Driver’s Death, With Deadly Fire and Officers Detained

Detentions of Brimob personnel underscore a promised transparent probe that now tests Prabowo’s leadership.

Protesters gather near the burning regional parliament building, during a protest after a motorcycle taxi driver died after being struck and run over by a police tactical vehicle during Thursday's protest against parliamentarians' allowances, in Makassar, South Sulawesi province, Indonesia, August 30, 2025. REUTERS/Iqbal Lubis
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Protesters walk by as the local parliament building is engulfed in flames during a protest following the death of a delivery rider in clashes between riot police and students protesting against lawmakers' allowances in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, Friday, Aug. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/ Masyudi Firmansyah)
Cars are burnt at the regional parliament premises, during a protest after a motorcycle taxi driver died after being struck and run over by a police tactical vehicle during Thursday's protest against parliamentarians' allowances, in Makassar, South Sulawesi province, Indonesia, August 30, 2025. REUTERS/Iqbal Lubis

Overview

  • At least three people died in a blaze at Makassar’s city council building that authorities say was set by protesters, with additional injuries reported.
  • Demonstrations spread from Jakarta to cities including Surabaya, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Medan and Bali, as police used tear gas and water cannons and some military units deployed.
  • Seven Mobile Brigade officers have been detained for ethics breaches tied to the incident that killed 21-year-old Affan Kurniawan, with the investigation ongoing and the driver of the armored vehicle not yet identified.
  • President Prabowo Subianto called the police actions excessive, ordered a thorough and transparent inquiry, visited the victim’s family and pledged government support.
  • The unrest grew from anger over reports of a 50 million rupiah monthly housing allowance for each of 580 lawmakers and broader economic strains, after a viral video showed Kurniawan—reportedly not protesting—being run over.