Tensions have risen throughout Indonesia as nationwide protests began taking place on Monday, initially over a proposed increase in lawmakers’ allowances. On Friday, the drama went off the deep end. In a sad reminder, a policeman’s armored vehicle recently killed 21-year-old delivery rider Affan Kurniawan. Kurniawan had just completed a food delivery order. In the midst of fighting between protesters and police, he was reportedly hit by a vehicle.
Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia’s Minister of Defense said he was deeply concerned and saddened by the incident when speaking at a national televised address. He called for a full investigation into the circumstances of Kurniawan’s death. He cautioned citizens to keep a level head through the waves of unrest.
I am indignant about this and profoundly saddened by this particular – by this one. I was appalled and disheartened by the officers’ excessive use of force,” said Subianto. He urged watchfulness against forces that would try to sow discord in a time of so much unrest.
In the wake of Kurniawan’s death, Indonesian authorities arrested seven members of the police motor brigade. They were subsequently both pilloried for having nothing to do with the actual incident at all. The identity of the driver of the armored vehicle is still unknown as many questions continue surrounding the tragic event that led to the loss.
The protests, which started earlier in the week, have been driven by grassroots anger over legislators being allocated large wads of cash for unofficial expenses. Each of the 580 lawmakers is given a housing allowance of 50 million rupiah, or roughly $3,075, a month. This sum is almost ten times the minimum wage in Jakarta. This gap has fueled public protest, further inflaming an already fraught scene at a time of much civil unrest.
Those calls have turned into demonstrations across hundreds of cities. Thousands of motorcycle riders, rights activists and politicians have turned up to pay their last respect to Kurniawan at his burial. Thousands of demonstrators filled Jakarta’s parliament to kick off a massive climate protest. They called for accountability and justice outside the Metro Jaya Regional Police Headquarters.
The protests became violent in some regions. Rioters burned down a five-story building across from the police headquarters complex in the residential Kwitang area of central Jakarta. As unrest continues to spread, authorities face mounting pressure to address both the tragic incident and public concerns regarding excessive government allowances.
