At least three people were killed by a fire started by protesters at a council building in the Indonesian city of Makassar, after demonstrations broke out across the country over the death of a motorcycle taxi driver hit by a police vehicle.
Major cities in Indonesia, including the capital Jakarta on Friday, have been rocked by protests after footage spread of a gig motorcycle driver being run over by a police tactical vehicle during earlier rallies over low wages and perceived lavish perks for lawmakers.
Protests in Makassar, in eastern Indonesia, descended into chaos outside the provincial and local city council buildings, both set on fire and vehicles set ablaze as protesters hurled rocks and molotov cocktails.
Three people were killed as a result of the fire at the Makassar city council building, its secretary, Rahmat Mappatoba, told AFP. “They were trapped in the burning building,” he said, accusing protesters of storming the office to set the building on fire.
“This is beyond our prediction. Usually during a demonstration, protesters only threw rocks or burn a tyre in front of the office. They never stormed into the building or burned it.” Two of the victims were staff at the local council and another was a civil servant.
Two died at the scene while one died in hospital. At least four people were injured in the fire and are being treated in hospital, the official said.
Images showed the provincial council building ablaze overnight, but the fire has since been extinguished. Protesters at the South Sulawesi provincial council building tried to knock down the gate and storm in.
In Jakarta, hundreds of people massed outside the headquarters of the elite Mobile Brigade Corp paramilitary police unit they blamed for the motorcycle gig driver Affan Kuniawan’s death, throwing firecrackers as police responded with teargas.
A group of protesters tried to tear down the gates of the unit, notorious for its heavy-handed tactics, and pulled a sign from the building’s facade in chaotic scenes. Police said they had detained seven officers for questioning in connection with the driver’s death.
The protests were the biggest and most violent of Prabowo Subianto’s presidency, a key test less than a year into his rule that forced him to quickly urge calm, order an investigation and visit the family of the killed driver.
He has pledged fast, state-driven growth but had already faced protests for widespread government budget cuts to fund his populist policies, including a $1bn free meal program.
Protests also spread to other major Indonesian cities on Friday, including Yogyakarta, Bandung, Semarang and Surabaya in Java and Medan in North Sumatra province.
The situation in Indonesia is complex, and the government is facing criticism for its handling of the protests. The death of the motorcycle taxi driver has sparked widespread outrage, and the government is under pressure to take action to address the concerns of the protesters.
The protests in Makassar and Jakarta have highlighted the deep-seated frustrations of many Indonesians with the government and the police. The use of force by the police has been widely criticized, and the government is facing calls to take action to address the issue.
The situation is ongoing, and it remains to be seen how the government will respond to the protests and the demands of the demonstrators. One thing is certain, however: the protests in Indonesia are a significant development, and the government will need to take action to address the concerns of the protesters if it wants to avoid further unrest.
In the midst of this ongoing crisis, it is essential to remember the importance of peaceful protest and the need for the government to listen to the concerns of its citizens. The situation in Indonesia is complex, and it will require a nuanced and thoughtful response from the government if it is to be resolved peacefully.
The international community is watching closely, and it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold in the coming days and weeks.
One thing is certain, however: the protests in Indonesia are a significant development, and the government will need to take action to address the concerns of the protesters if it wants to avoid further unrest.