Three people have been killed after protesters set fire to a council building in eastern Indonesia, as nationwide unrest continues over the death of ride-sharing driver Affan Kurniawan.
Kurniawan, 21, was run over by a police vehicle in Jakarta earlier this week during demonstrations against low wages and controversial new allowances for lawmakers. His death has become a flashpoint for wider discontent, sparking violent clashes in several cities.
On Friday, thousands attended Kurniawan’s funeral, many dressed in the signature green jackets of ride-hailing company Gojek. Former colleagues and fellow drivers accompanied his body, joined by Jakarta police chief Asep Edi Suheri and politicians including Rieke Dyah Pitaloka and former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan. Both officials urged calm, calling for investigations while asking riders to end protests to maintain stability.
President Prabowo Subianto visited Kurniawan’s family to offer condolences, admitting he was “shocked and disappointed by the excessive actions of the officers.” Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung also pledged financial support for funeral costs. Authorities have since confirmed that seven members of the Mobile Brigade Corps (Satbrimob) were found to have violated the police code of ethics.
Despite official apologies, protests escalated across Jakarta and other cities including Surabaya, Bandung, Medan, and Surakarta. Demonstrators clashed with police, hurling rocks, Molotov cocktails, and firecrackers, while security forces fired tear gas in response. Several vehicles were torched, and protesters blocked convoys outside the Indonesian National Police headquarters.
At the heart of the demonstrations are growing frustrations over economic inequality. Protesters have denounced a new monthly allowance of 50 million rupiah ($3,030) for lawmakers — nearly ten times Jakarta’s minimum wage. Calls for higher wages, reduced taxes, and stronger anti-corruption reforms have intensified alongside demands for justice over Kurniawan’s death.
Gojek released a statement mourning the loss of Kurniawan, saying: “Behind every green jacket, there’s a family, prayers, and struggle. Affan Kurniawan was part of that journey, and his departure leaves a deep sorrow for all of us.” The company pledged support for his family.
With tensions continuing to rise, Kurniawan’s death has become a rallying point for Indonesia’s growing wave of public anger against inequality and heavy-handed policing.
