Indonesian students and motorcycle drivers rallied outside Jakarta’s police headquarters on Friday, demanding justice after a rideshare driver was fatally struck by a police armored vehicle during a protest the previous night.
The victim, Affan Kurniawan, was reportedly not involved in the demonstration, which had drawn crowds to protest lawmakers’ salaries, education cuts, and the government’s school meals program. As tensions escalated, riot police deployed tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd.
Jakarta’s police chief publicly apologized, and seven officers from the tactical vehicle unit have been arrested pending investigation. The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with student unions and driver associations calling the death a symbol of unchecked police violence.
Military personnel were dispatched to calm the growing unrest, while Jakarta Legal Aid demanded the release of 600 demonstrators detained during the clashes. The tragedy has intensified scrutiny of police conduct and amplified calls for reform across Indonesia.
+ There are no comments
Add yours