Parliament Buildings in Flames: Chaos Leads to Three Fatalities in Indonesia
Violent protests have caused turmoil in several Indonesian cities, leading to the burning of a local parliament building and resulting in the tragic loss of three lives, with five others seriously injured.
The city under the spotlight of this incident is Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi province. As the night blanketed the city late last week, the provincial council building was set on fire. The resulting inferno cast a surreal orange glow over the city.
Rescue Efforts and Casualties
By the break of dawn, three lifeless bodies were discovered and five individuals were rushed to the hospital with varying degrees of injury. These injuries were either burn-related or due to bone fractures sustained from jumping out of the burning structure, as confirmed by a local disaster control official.
There was widespread unrest in other parts of the country as well. Protestors in Bandung city, situated in West Java, also set their regional parliament building on fire. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in this incident. Meanwhile, in Surabaya, the nation's second largest city, protestors stormed the regional police headquarters after setting vehicles on fire and dismantling fences. The security forces retaliated with tear gas and water cannons, to which the protestors responded with fireworks and wooden clubs.
Embassies of various nations located in Jakarta, such as those of the U.S., Australia, and Southeast Asian countries, have issued advisories asking their citizens to steer clear of protest areas and large public gatherings.
Aftermath of the Protests
As calm gradually returned to the capital, local authorities were left to deal with the aftermath, cleaning up the charred remains of cars, police stations, and bus shelters that bore the brunt of the protestors' wrath.
The protests, which lasted five days, were triggered by reports that all lawmakers were receiving a monthly allowance of 50 million rupiah (approximately $3,075) for housing, in addition to their salaries. This allowance, enacted last year, is nearly ten times the minimum wage in Jakarta. Critics argue that such an allowance is not only excessive, but also insensitive given the rising cost of living, taxes, and unemployment rates faced by the majority of the population.
The Tragic Incident That Fueled the Protests
The protests took a more violent turn following the tragic death of a 21-year-old food delivery driver, Affan Kurniawan, during a rally in Jakarta. The incident, caught on video and circulated on social media, shocked the nation and led to an outcry against security forces. Affan, who was in the process of completing a food delivery order, was caught in the clash. Eyewitnesses reported that an armored car from the National Police’s Mobile Brigade unit sped through the crowd of demonstrators, hitting Affan and causing him to fall.
Over the weekend, hundreds of food delivery drivers and students in Bali held a demonstration to express their solidarity over Affan's death. This protest, which is relatively rare on the tourist island, resulted in calls for police reform and the release of those arrested during the protests.
The protestors marched towards Bali’s regional police headquarters. The riot police fired tear gas to push back those who attempted to breach the heavily guarded compound. The protestors retaliated by hurling rocks, bottles, and flares.
Protests Across the Country
Clashes between the riot police and protestors erupted in several cities across Indonesia, including Medan, Solo, Yogyakarta, Magelang, Malang, Bengkulu, Pekanbaru, and Manokwari in the easternmost Papua region. In Jakarta alone, approximately 950 people were arrested, as stated by the National Commission on Human Rights.
While the authorities reported that about 25 officers were hospitalized with serious injuries after being attacked by protestors in Jakarta, the National Commission on Human Rights believes that the number of injured community members is significantly higher.
Amnesty International, a global human rights organization, criticized the Indonesian government, accusing it of suppressing free speech by cracking down on public protests. "No one should lose their lives for exercising their right to protest," stated the Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia. He called for the immediate and unconditional release of anyone detained solely for exercising their rights.