JAKARTA, INDONESIA — Widespread protests have rocked Indonesia following the death of a young delivery driver who was crushed by a police armored vehicle during a demonstration in the capital city of Jakarta. The tragic incident, which has sparked outrage and escalated nationwide unrest, stems from public anger over a newly-revealed housing allowance for members of parliament.
The protests began in Jakarta on August 25 after it was reported that 580 members of the lower house of parliament had been receiving a monthly housing allowance of 50 million rupiah ($3,300 USD) since September of last year. This amount is approximately ten times the monthly minimum wage in Jakarta, fueling public frustration amidst growing concerns over rising taxes and unemployment. A recent report revealed that lawmakers are now earning more than 100 million rupiah ($6,600 USD) per month, including salary and various allowances.
On August 28, a motorcycle delivery driver, Afan Kurniawan, 21, was killed during a protest when a police armored vehicle reportedly charged into the crowd. Eyewitnesses told local media that the vehicle did not stop after hitting Kurniawan, prompting calls for the dismissal of the National Police Commissioner.
The following day, hundreds of protesters marched to the National Police Mobile Brigade headquarters, clashing with security forces. Demonstrators threw stones and flares, while police used water cannons and tear gas in an attempt to disperse the crowd. The unrest led to property damage, including a five-story building set ablaze near police headquarters and the destruction of police patrol cars.
The movement has quickly spread beyond Jakarta to major cities like Surabaya, Yogyakarta, and Bandung. In Surabaya, protesters carrying fireworks and blunt objects attempted to storm the governor’s residence, and in Bandung, a provincial council building was set on fire. In Yogyakarta, demonstrators burned tires, demanding police reform and the confiscation of assets from corrupt officials.
Thousands of Kurniawan’s fellow delivery drivers showed their solidarity by attending his funeral, filling Jakarta’s main roads with their motorcycles.
In a televised address, President Prabowo Subianto expressed his condolences to Kurniawan’s family and called for calm. He acknowledged his shock and disappointment at the "excessive actions of the police officers" but also urged citizens to be cautious of those who "constantly incite unrest and chaos." To quell the escalating tensions, President Prabowo visited the victim’s parents and promised compensation.
Authorities have detained and are investigating seven police officers in connection with the incident, though the driver of the armored vehicle has not yet been identified. Human rights organizations are demanding that those responsible for Kurniawan’s death be held accountable, and a local legal aid group has called for the release of 600 people arrested during the protests.
The widespread discontent comes as Indonesia, despite a decade of steady economic growth, faces a surge in unemployment. The number of official layoffs in the first half of this year has increased by 32% compared to the same period last year, with over 42,000 workers losing their jobs. This economic backdrop has intensified public resentment toward what is perceived as government corruption and a lack of accountability.
[Copyright (c) Global Economic Times. All Rights Reserved.]
