Major cities in Indonesia are seeing some of the largest and deadliest protests in decades as anger over police violence and economic hardship spills out into the streets.
Ordinary workers, especially ride-hailing drivers, are at the centre of the protest, claiming that they are disproportionately affected by growing living expenses, job insecurity and government indifference.
The demonstrations intensified after the death of 21-year-old motorcycle delivery rider Affan Kurniawan, who was killed when a police tactical vehicle ploughed through a protesting crowd in Jakarta last week.
Video fuelled anger
Video of his death spread rapidly online, fuelling anger among his fellow motorcycle delivery riders and citizens, who viewed it as a sign of excessive force and negligence on the side of the police. His funeral was attended by thousands, turning it into a rallying cry for justice.
Protesters claim that their grievances extend well beyond Affan’s passing.
While millions of Indonesians face stagnant earnings, rising taxes and widespread layoffs, many point to parliamentarians’ generous allowances, which are nearly 10 times Jakarta’s minimum wage.
“The problems piled up like dried hay, and the parliament lit the fire,” Centre of Economic and Law Studies Executive Director Bhima Yudhistira Adhinegara told AFP in an interview.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” he said.
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Protests have spread beyond the capital
In Makassar, three people died after a parliament building was set ablaze by angry protesters. Demonstrators raided the governor’s office in Surabaya, while protesters in Bandung and Yogyakarta set regional assemblies on fire.
To monitor the crisis, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has cancelled a diplomatic trip to China. He also promised a focused investigation and support for Affan’s family.
However, rights organisations and demonstrators argue that symbolic actions are insufficient.
They demand the dismissal of top police officials, protection for low-wage workers and revisions to parliamentarians’ benefits.
Likewise, observers agree that symbolic gestures and empty promises are not enough to calm the unrest.
“He (Subianto) needs to change the course, and he should re-evaluate his cabinet as well,” Made Supriatma, a visiting fellow at Singapore’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, told AFP.
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Adam Peaker 
Ian Trinidad