Protests first broke out earlier this week in Indonesia’s capital city, Jakarta, triggered by public anger over lawmakers’ pay. What started as demonstrations escalated sharply on Friday when tensions rose after a police armoured vehicle fatally struck the driver of a ride-hailing motorbike. The unrest quickly spread, and on Saturday, authorities confirmed that three people had lost their lives while five others were left injured after protesters set fire to a regional parliament building. The incident unfolded in Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi province, marking one of the most violent moments so far and serving as the first major challenge for the recently established administration of President Prabowo Subianto.
According to a statement issued by Indonesia’s disaster management agency, the exact causes of the fatalities in Friday night’s blaze were not specified. However, the state-run Antara news agency reported that the deceased appeared to have been trapped inside the burning parliament building, unable to escape the flames. Authorities further explained that at least two of the injured sustained their wounds after jumping from the building in an effort to save themselves from the fire.
Meanwhile, President Prabowo, who assumed office in October of last year, made a personal visit to the home of the motorbike driver who was killed during Friday’s unrest. There, he met with the victim’s parents, expressed his condolences, and gave his assurance that he would closely monitor and oversee the investigation into the driver’s death, signaling his government’s commitment to accountability in this sensitive matter.
As the unrest spread, local media documented instances of looting in Jakarta, along with damage caused to several transportation facilities across the capital. Protests were also reported in other major Indonesian cities, including Bandung and Yogyakarta, highlighting the nationwide scope of dissatisfaction.
The disruption extended into public services as well. Jakarta’s mass rapid transit railway announced that its trains would not be stopping at one of the stations located close to the site of Friday’s protests for safety reasons. Similarly, the Transjakarta bus service, owned by the Jakarta provincial government, confirmed that it was unable to provide services to commuters due to the ongoing unrest.
By Saturday, however, there appeared to be no immediate signs of large-scale demonstrations in Jakarta, though the atmosphere remained tense as the nation awaited how the government would address this growing crisis.
