Tensions soar across Indonesia as protests against police erupt in multiple cities

By NINIEK KARMINI and ACHMAD IBRAHIM JAKARTA Indonesia AP Protests erupted in multiple cities and tensions soared across Indonesia on Friday a day after a delivery rider was allegedly run over by a police armored bicycle during clashes between riot police and students protesting against lawmakers allowances Related Articles Zelenskyy seeks talks with Trump and European leaders on slow progress of peace efforts with Russia Israel declares Gaza s largest city a combat zone as the bodies of hostages are recovered The present day in History August Olympic marathoner attacked by spectator Japan uses AI-generated eruption of Mount Fuji to prepare Tokyo for worst-case scenario Major Russian attack includes rare strikes on the center of Kyiv killing at least Protesters marched to the headquarters of the police mobile brigade in the capital Jakarta on Friday and particular attempted to storm the compound Police used water canons and fired rounds of tear gas to push back the demonstrators who hurled bottles rocks and flares at them One group of rioters set fire to a five-story building near the police compound in Kwitang neighborhood of central Jakarta causing several people to be trapped inside Specific students halted their protests to help soldiers and residents rescue those trapped Other protesters destroyed traffic signs and other infrastructure causing traffic to come to a standstill in the area Clashes between rock-throwing demonstrators and riot police also broke out in other cities across the country including Surabaya Solo Yogyakarta Medan Makassar Manado Bandung and Manokwari in the easternmost Papua region A man reacts as police fire tear gas during a protest following the death of a delivery rider who was run over by a police armored van in a rally against lawmakers privilege in Jakarta Indonesia Friday Aug AP Photo Achmad Ibrahim Students attack a police car during a protest following the death of a delivery rider who was run over by a police armored carriage in a rally against lawmakers privilege in Jakarta Indonesia Friday Aug AP Photo Tatan Syuflana Show Caption of A man reacts as police fire tear gas during a protest following the death of a delivery rider who was run over by a police armored carriage in a rally against lawmakers privilege in Jakarta Indonesia Friday Aug AP Photo Achmad Ibrahim Expand The unrest came after a video on social media apparently showing the death of the motorcycle taxi driver during Thursday s clashes shocked the nation and spurred an outcry against the guard forces The victim identified as -year-old Affan Kurniawan was reportedly completing a food delivery arrangement order when he was caught in the clash following days of violent demonstrations Observers explained local television that the armored car from the National Police s Mobile Brigade unit suddenly sped through the crowd of demonstrators and hit Kurniawan causing him to fall Instead of stopping the car ran over him Thousands of motorcycle riders along with rights activists and politicians paid their respects to the Kurniawan on Friday during his burial They filled a major traffic circle in the heart of the city and sprawled into its main thoroughfares President Prabowo Subianto appealed for calm and expressed condolences in a televised speech I am deeply concerned and deeply saddened by this occurrence Subianto disclosed I was shocked and disappointed by the officers excessive actions The former general reported he has been closely monitoring developments surrounding the protests and noted he has ordered a thorough research He called on people to remain vigilant against elements that constantly stir up unrest and seek chaos In a situation like this I urge all citizens to remain calm and trust in the establishment I lead which will do what s best for the people Subianto revealed Bureaucrats certified that seven members of the police motor brigade who were linked to the situation have been detained and questioned though the driver of the armored motorcycle has not yet been identified Nationwide protests began on Monday after reports revealed that all lawmakers received a monthly housing allowance of million rupiah in addition to their salaries The allowance introduced last year is almost times the Jakarta minimum wage Critics argue the new allowance is not only excessive but also insensitive at a time when the greater part people are grappling with soaring living costs and taxes and rising unemployment Associated Press journalists Edna Tarigan and Andi Jatmiko in Jakarta Indonesia contributed to this overview