JAKARTA, August 29, 2025 — Riots and protests have swept across Indonesia, culminating in violent clashes on Friday that left several cities engulfed in chaos. The unrest follows months of growing public frustration over economic hardship and political privilege, but the immediate trigger was the death of a young delivery driver in a shocking case of alleged police brutality.
Protests in Indonesia ESCALATE after a 21-yo man was RUN OVER by law enforcement and killed
Angry crowds set FIRES in Central Jakarta as police deploy water cannons & smoke bombs
The unrest began over economic insecurity pic.twitter.com/Zh7TKOwoCB
— RT (@RT_com) August 29, 2025
The Tragic Spark: Death of Affan Kurniawan
The nationwide anger exploded after a viral video surfaced on August 28, showing 21-year-old Affan Kurniawan, a motorcycle taxi driver, being fatally struck by a police armored vehicle near Indonesia’s House of Representatives.
- Witnesses claim the vehicle, belonging to the National Police Mobile Brigade, sped through the crowd during a protest and ran over Kurniawan, who was reportedly finishing a food delivery.
- Instead of stopping, the vehicle allegedly continued forward, killing him instantly.
- The incident was widely condemned as another example of unchecked police brutality, sparking outrage across social media and fueling mass protests.
Why Indonesians Are Angry
The tragedy came on top of long-simmering grievances:
- Lavish Allowances for Lawmakers: Public outrage initially erupted on August 25 when reports revealed that all 580 parliament members would receive a new monthly housing allowance of 50 million rupiah ($3,075) — nearly 10 times Jakarta’s minimum wage.
- Economic Hardship: President Prabowo Subianto’s austerity measures — including cuts to public works, education, and health — have deepened public frustration as living costs, taxes, and unemployment rise.
- History of Police Violence: Rights groups, including Amnesty International, have long criticized Indonesian authorities for excessive use of force, crackdowns on dissent, and abuses in sensitive regions such as Papua.
August 29: Cities in Flames
The protests escalated dramatically on Friday, with violence reported across multiple regions:
- Jakarta: Demonstrators clashed with riot police near the Mobile Brigade HQ. Authorities fired tear gas and water cannons as rioters set fire to a five-story building.
- Makassar: Protesters torched a local parliament building. At least three people were confirmed dead, with several others injured.
- Surabaya: The governor’s office compound was stormed, with vehicles burned during street battles.
- Bandung: A regional parliament building was set ablaze by protesters.
- Papua: Protests spread to the country’s easternmost region, where long-standing anger over racism and independence demands intersected with the national unrest.
Government Response
President Prabowo Subianto urged calm and pledged a “transparent investigation” into Kurniawan’s death. Authorities confirmed that seven police officers have been detained and are under investigation for ethics violations related to the incident.
Despite the promise of accountability, many Indonesians remain skeptical, pointing to past failures to punish security forces accused of abuse.
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