How a delivery driver’s death fuelled deadly protests in Indonesia

At least seven people have been killed, parliament buildings have been set alight and more than 1,000 people have been arrested as anti-government protests sweep across Indonesia. 

The unrest began in Jakarta, the country’s capital, more than a week ago – but has grown into wider demonstrations in at least 32 of Indonesia‘s 38 provinces, according to the country’s home minister.

Many of the protests turned violent after the death of Affan Kurniawan. The 21-year-old was trying to deliver food when he was caught up in a clash between police and protesters in Jakarta.

Now, many Indonesians are calling for a list of 25 demands from the government, including the end of police brutality and ensuring decent wages for the public. The hashtag #ResetIndonesia is filling social media, with many users adding pink and green colours to their profile pictures in response to the protests.

Here is everything you need to know.

What sparked the protests?

Public outrage grew when it emerged that all 580 members of the country’s House of Representatives receive a monthly housing allowance of 50 million rupiah (approximately £2,270), in addition to their salaries.

The benefit, introduced last year, is nearly 10 times the Jakarta minimum wage. Critics have argued it is not only excessive but also insensitive during a time of rising cost of living, taxes and unemployment.

Protests also targeted what demonstrators called “corrupt elites” within the government and policies that, according to one student-led group, benefit conglomerates and the military.

A statement by the group, called Gejayan Memanggil, appeared to reference the growing role of the military in civilian life under President Prabowo Subianto, who is a former military general.

On 25 August, hundreds of protesters marched through the streets of Jakarta surrounding the parliament building. Witnesses claimed that some tried to get inside.

Others, dressed in dark clothing, threw rocks and set off fireworks at riot police, who fired tear gas and used a water cannon to try and push back the crowd. Officials did not provide details of damage, any casualties or arrests.

Violent escalation

Violence between the two sides escalated after the death of Mr Kurniawan, who was reportedly hit by an armoured police vehicle, which sped through a crowd of protesters on Thursday 28 September.

The following day clashes between riot police and protesters erupted in multiple cities across the country, including in Medan, Solo, Yogyakarta, Magelang, Malang, Bengkulu, Pekanbaru and Manokwari in the eastern Papua region.

In the city of Makassar on Sulawesi island, at least three people died, and five others were injured after a local parliament building was set on fire.

Protesters also stormed the regional police headquarters in Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city, after destroying fences and torching vehicles.

Indonesian security forces used tear gas and water cannons against the protesters, who hit back with fireworks and wooden clubs.

The violent scenes emerging from the country led to TikTok voluntarily suspending its feature for users to go live, citing measures to keep the platform a safe and civil space.

Senior minister Airlangga Hartarto said on Monday that at least eight people had died in the clashes. Jakata’s health office said 469 were injured, including 97 who needed hospital treatment.

At least 1,240 protesters were arrested after five days of demonstrations in the capital, with city officials reporting $3.4m (£2.5m) in damage.

‘Doxxing’ of political figures

Certain Indonesian officials became the targets of social media “doxxing” – the searching and publishing of private information with malicious intent – which revealed their addresses and led to the looting of their homes.

One of those was finance minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, whose home was broken into after a deep-fake video of her circulated where she said teachers were a burden. Ms Indrawati was not at the property at the time.

The home of politician Ahmad Sahroni was also looted after he said calls to dissolve parliament over the financial benefit were being made by the “stupidest people in the world”.

What has the government said?

When visiting some of those injured during the violence, Mr Prabowo said the unrest was being fuelled by “rioters, not protesters,” and accused the groups who had organised the action of trying to destabilise the nation.

He also cancelled a high-profile trip to China to attend a “Victory Day” parade alongside other world leaders to focus on ending the protests.

It represents the most significant challenge yet to the president’s government, which has faced little political opposition since taking office nearly a year ago.

In a rare concession, Mr Prabowo told a televised news conference on 31 August that the government would cut politicians’ perks and privileges, including the housing allowance that caused the demonstrations.

He also said police were investigating seven officers linked to the death of Mr Kurniawan, but warned that security forces would act firmly to control law and order.

Is there an end in sight?

Despite concessions from the government, demonstrations across the country have continued.

Groups of student protesters gathered in Jakarta on 1 September, as well as in Indonesia’s cultural hub of Yogyakarta, and the cities of Bandung and Makassar, the site of the weekend’s worst violence.

“The president’s statement did not accommodate demands from students and civil society,” Syamry, the leader of a student group from Makassar State University, said.

They said students also had other, deeper demands, such as comprehensive police reform.

Tensions remained high on Tuesday as police fired tear gas into crowds of protesters near the campuses of the Islamic University of Bandung – also known as UNISBA – and nearby Pasundan University, according to two student groups at the two institutions.

Police official Hendra Rochmawan said authorities did not enter the campuses but had tried to break up crowds of non-student protesters seeking protection within the grounds, as crowds blocked roads in the area.

International rights groups have criticised the response of security officials, with the United Nations calling for rights violations to be investigated.

But the deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch said authorities “acted irresponsibly by treating the protests as acts of treason or terrorism”.