Three people have been killed after protesters set fire to a council building in eastern Indonesia, amid nationwide demonstrations over the death of a ride-sharing driver.
Affan Kurniawan, 21, was run over by a police vehicle in Jakarta during earlier protests about low wages and politicians' expenses that are still ongoing.
The demonstrations are seen as a key test for President Prabowo Subianto, who visited the family of Kurniawan late on Friday to offer his condolences.
On Saturday, he cancelled a planned trip to China next week to attend a military parade commemorating the end of World War Two, as violent clashes continue across Indonesia.
Social media platform TikTok has also suspended its live feature in Indonesia for a few days in response to the protests.
Demonstrators gathered over the weekend, including in front of the police headquarters in Bali, one of the country's most popular tourist destinations. Police across the country fired tear gas at crowds in an attempt to disperse them.
Affan Kurniawan's funeral took place on Friday, with his former colleagues accompanying him to his final resting place. They were joined by Jakarta police chief Asep Edi Suheri, who expressed hope that the case would be thoroughly investigated but called on delivery riders to stop their protests to maintain stability.
As tensions persisted, protesters gathered outside the police headquarters demanding justice for Kurniawan's death, with some carrying banners calling for accountability.
In response, Subianto issued an apology, expressing shock and disappointment over the actions of the police. The governor of Jakarta, Pramono Anung, also visited Kurniawan’s family, offering condolences and financial assistance for funeral arrangements.
Following these events, Gojek, Kurniawan's employer, released a statement acknowledging the loss and pledging support for his family. The protests, while ignited by Kurniawan’s death, reflect wider discontent with low wages and high government expenditures on lawmakers, who are set to receive an allowance significantly higher than the minimum wage in Jakarta.
As protests continue, the situation remains tense, with demonstrations occurring not only in Jakarta but also in various regions across the nation, indicating a rising wave of public unrest against perceived injustices.
