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| A car burns after being set ablaze during a protest against the Mobile Brigade Corps, or 'Brimob' in Jakarta (Aditya Aji) |
From Economic Protests to a Breaking Point
The demonstrations initially erupted peacefully last week, led mainly by students, to protest controversial financial perks for lawmakers amid economic difficulties. Public pressure forced President Prabowo Subianto to reverse his decision on the measures.
However, the situation deteriorated and turned violent after a video went viral on social media. The footage showed an elite paramilitary police unit running over a 21-year-old delivery driver, Affan Kurniawan, late on Thursday. The incident became the "last straw," igniting a fierce wave of outrage directed at the police force.
Since then, the protests have spread from the capital, Jakarta, to other major cities, including Yogyakarta, Bandung, Semarang, and Surabaya on the island of Java, and Medan in North Sumatra province. More large gatherings of students and protesters are planned for Monday.
A Show of Force from the Government
Facing widespread unrest, the government has responded with tough measures. Police have established numerous checkpoints throughout the capital. A police spokesman told Kompas TV that officers are patrolling the city to "protect" citizens and create a sense of security.
Late on Sunday, a convoy of armored vehicles and motorcycles was deployed to the parliament building in what was seen as a show of force and an attempt to deter protesters.
The domestic crisis has forced President Prabowo to cancel his scheduled trip to China this week to attend a military parade commemorating the end of World War II. Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, a close ally of the president, warned on Sunday that the military and police would take "firm action" against "rioters and looters," following an incident where the finance minister's home was ransacked.
Casualties and Broader Impacts
The violence has resulted in tragic consequences. In the eastern city of Makassar, at least three people were killed following a fire started by protesters at a council building on Friday. Also in Makassar, another victim died after being beaten by a mob that suspected him of being an intelligence officer.
In Yogyakarta, Amikom University confirmed the death of student Rheza Sendy Pratama during the protests, although the circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear.
Anticipating continued unrest, the video platform TikTok on Saturday suspended its livestreaming feature for "several days" in Indonesia, where it has over 100 million users, in a bid to prevent the spread of violent content.
The situation in Indonesia is expected to remain complex as public anger shows no sign of abating and the government demonstrates an increasingly hardline stance.
