Rampage in Indonesia as regional parliament building is set ablaze, resulting in 3 fatalities following an enraged crowd's attack
Protests erupted in cities across Indonesia this week, sparked by reports that all 580 Indonesian lawmakers receive a monthly housing allowance of 50 million rupiah ($3,075) in addition to their salaries. The allowance, introduced last year, is almost 10 times the Jakarta minimum wage.
The protests were further escalated by the death of 21-year-old ride-hailing driver Affan Kurniawan during a rally in Jakarta. Kurniawan was reportedly hit by an armored car from the National Police's Mobile Brigade unit and run over during the clash. The authorities confirmed that seven members of the police motor brigade linked to Kurniawan's death have been detained and questioned.
Clashes between riot police and protesters occurred in multiple cities, including Medan, Solo, Yogyakarta, Magelang, Malang, Bengkulu, Pekanbaru, and Manokwari in easternmost Papua region. In Surabaya, protesters stormed the regional police headquarters, and there were clashes with security forces. Protesters also set a regional parliament ablaze in West Java's Bandung city, but no casualties were reported.
Calm largely returned to Indonesia's capital on Saturday after five days of protests, during which protesters set fire to cars, police offices, and bus shelters. About 951 arrests were made in rallies in Jakarta alone by Thursday, according to the National Commission on Human Rights, or Komnas HAM. Approximately 25 officers were hospitalized with serious injuries after being attacked by protesters.
The Komnas HAM believes that the number of injured people on the community side is much bigger. Rescuers retrieved three bodies and five injured individuals from a burning building in Makassar, the capital city of South Sulawesi province. Critics argue that the new allowance is excessive and insensitive, given the current economic struggles and high unemployment rates in Indonesia.
Amnesty International criticized the Indonesian government for suppressing free speech with crackdowns on public protests. Usman Hamid, the Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia, stated that no one should lose their lives for exercising their right to protest. Amnesty International called for the immediate and unconditional release of anyone detained solely for exercising their rights.
This ongoing unrest highlights the deep-seated dissatisfaction among the Indonesian public with the government's policies and the perceived disconnect between the political elite and the general population. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the government will respond to these widespread protests and address the concerns of its citizens.
Read also:
- Tobacco industry's suggested changes on a legislative modification are disregarded by health journalists
- Uncovering Political Ad Transparency: A Guide to Investigating opponent's Political Advertisements in the Digital Realm
- Elon Musk praises JD Vance's debate performance against Tim Walz
- Right-wing Israeli minister supports controversial plan for West Bank settlement expansion
