Monday, September 1, 2025
Indonesian authorities have ramped up security across major cities following a wave of deadly protests that left at least six people dead and dozens injured. The unrest, sparked by public outrage over financial perks for lawmakers, escalated after viral footage showed a paramilitary police vehicle fatally striking 21-year-old delivery driver Affan Kurniawan in Jakarta last Thursday.
Protests, initially peaceful, turned violent as demonstrators clashed with elite police units. The anger quickly spread beyond the capital, igniting rallies in Yogyakarta, Bandung, Semarang, Surabaya, and Medan. In Makassar, fires set by protesters at a council building claimed three lives, while another man was beaten to death by a mob over suspicions of being an intelligence officer.
President Prabowo Subianto, facing the worst unrest of his tenure, cancelled a scheduled trip to China and ordered a full investigation into the incident. His Defence Minister warned of “firm action” against looters and rioters, as armored convoys were deployed to parliament in a show of force.
TikTok, which has over 100 million users in Indonesia, temporarily suspended its live feature amid fears of further escalation.
Security checkpoints have been established across Jakarta, with police patrolling key areas to “protect citizens and restore calm.” More student-led demonstrations are expected throughout the week.
(source pbs.org)
—Agencies
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