Indonesia has been rocked by its most violent protests in years, leaving at least six people dead and hundreds injured as anger spread across the nation. What began as outrage over viral footage of a motorcycle driver, Affan Kurniawan, being run over by a police vehicle quickly grew into a nationwide movement against political privilege, police brutality, and government excess.
Demonstrators across Jakarta, Makassar, Yogyakarta, and other cities set fire to parliament buildings, attacked government offices, and even looted the homes of lawmakers. Students and workers joined forces on the streets, chanting against corruption and inequality while demanding accountability from the ruling elite. The scale of destruction forced President Prabowo Subianto to cancel his planned overseas trip and confront the crisis head-on.
In a rare concession, the government announced it would roll back lawmakers’ controversial perks, including a three-thousand-dollar monthly housing allowance and unlimited overseas travel privileges. But while these symbolic measures calmed some tempers, many Indonesians insist the deeper issues remain unresolved. Calls for police accountability and stronger democratic protections continue to echo through protests, even as authorities respond with mass arrests—more than 1,200 people have been detained so far.
Markets have also felt the tremors of unrest, with the Indonesian rupiah sliding and stocks taking a hit as investors assess the fallout. International observers say the crisis marks the most serious challenge to Prabowo’s presidency since he took office, testing his ability to balance security with democratic freedoms.
For ordinary Indonesians, the protests are about more than perks for politicians. They are about fairness, justice, and the demand for leaders to live by the same standards as the people they govern. As the country pauses to mourn the victims of violence, the question now is whether these events will spark real reforms—or if the anger will continue to simmer beneath the surface.