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What Triggered Violent Protests Across Indonesia, and How Bad Could It Get for President Prabowo?
Protests intensified over lawmakers' monthly housing allowances of 50 million rupiah, nearly ten times the Jakarta minimum wage, sparking violent clashes and a delivery rider's death.
- On Monday, nationwide protests began in Indonesia after reports revealed all 580 lawmakers received a monthly housing allowance of 50 million rupiah; clashes escalated by Friday following the alleged death of delivery rider Affan Kurniawan.
- The allowance, introduced last year, is almost 10 times the Jakarta minimum wage, and critics say it is excessive amid soaring living costs and unemployment.
- Authorities reported 600 people arrested and seven members of the police motor brigade questioned, while videos circulated showing a black tactical vehicle running over a rider. Muzakir, 52-year-old protester, said, `I joined the protest because I'm very concerned about the death of my fellow driver`.
- On Friday, President Prabowo Subianto visited Kurniawan's parents' house in central Jakarta, urged calm, and promised an investigation plus financial support from the government.
- Protests also involved arson and looting, with protesters burning vehicles and parliament buildings, reviving fears of the 1998 riots when over 1,000 died; this is the most violent unrest since Prabowo's presidency began.
25 Articles
25 Articles
Tensions soar in Indonesia as protests spread
Protests erupted in multiple cities as tensions soared across Indonesia, after a delivery rider was allegedly run over by a police armored vehicle during clashes between riot police and students protesting against lawmakers’ allowances. Three people died after protesters set fire to a regional parliament building, according to a Reuters report citing authorities.
What triggered violent protests across Indonesia, and how bad could it get for President Prabowo?
Despite President Prabowo Subianto’s appeal for calm, protests erupted across major cities including capital Jakarta on Friday, following a delivery rider’s death after being run over by a police vehicle in an earlier rally.
Indonesia: 3 dead as protesters set fire to regional parliament building
Protests began in Indonesia's capital Jakarta this week over lawmakers' pay, escalating on Friday after a police armoured vehicle hit and killed the driver of a ride-hailing motorbike.
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