Indonesian authorities have tightened security in major cities after violent protests left six people dead and many others injured. The unrest, which began in Jakarta last week, has now spread to several cities, including Yogyakarta, Bandung, Semarang, Surabaya, Medan, and Makassar.
The demonstrations first erupted over lawmakers’ financial perks but turned more violent after shocking footage showed an elite police vehicle running over 21-year-old delivery driver Affan Kurniawan on Thursday night. His death sparked outrage and fueled anger against the country’s paramilitary police.
What started as student-led protests has now become the biggest wave of unrest since President Prabowo Subianto took office. Facing pressure, the president canceled his planned trip to China and withdrew the controversial perks proposal. Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin has warned of strict action against what he called “rioters and looters” after protesters torched the Finance Minister’s home.
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Casualties have been reported across multiple cities. In Makassar, three people were killed when a council building was set on fire, while a man was beaten to death after being mistaken for an intelligence officer. Amikom Yogyakarta University also confirmed that student Rheza Sendy Pratama died during protests, though details of his death remain unclear.
In Jakarta, security has been tightened with checkpoints, armored vehicles, and police patrols deployed around parliament. Authorities say these steps are aimed at protecting citizens and controlling further unrest.
More demonstrations are expected in the coming days, as student groups and civil society organizations plan fresh protests across Indonesia’s vast archipelago. Meanwhile, TikTok has temporarily suspended its live-streaming service in the country, where the app has more than 100 million users, in response to the ongoing turmoil.
