Protests have erupted across Indonesia following the death of 21-year-old Affan Kurniawan, a motorcycle taxi driver killed when an armored police vehicle struck him during clashes in Jakarta. The demonstrations, initially triggered by anger over lawmakers’ allowances and low wages amid rising inflation and unemployment, escalated into violence as police fired tear gas and deployed armored vehicles. President Prabowo Subianto, in his first public remarks since the unrest began, apologized for the incident, condemned the “excessive actions” of officers, and promised a full and transparent investigation. Despite his appeal for calm, student groups and motorcycle taxi drivers have vowed to continue protests, with tensions spreading across the capital.

Escalating Street Protests

The demonstrations began earlier in the week and intensified on Thursday outside the parliament building in Jakarta, where protesters clashed with police, hurling rocks, Molotov cocktails, and firecrackers. Riot police responded with tear gas and armored vehicles, one of which fatally struck Kurniawan. The All-Indonesia Students’ Union, which has helped organize the protests, called for further demonstrations denouncing police brutality. Crowds of motorcycle taxi drivers also gathered at the headquarters of the police’s mobile brigade corps, demanding justice for Kurniawan’s death. Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung urged restraint, saying the city “must maintain harmony and order,” while police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo issued a public apology to Kurniawan’s family and confirmed that the officer responsible had been detained.

Government Pressure And Market Impact

The protests pose an early challenge for President Prabowo, less than a year into office, as he faces rising public anger over economic hardship. The unrest forced the cancellation of several government meetings, including a national inflation coordination session. Meanwhile, Indonesian stocks dropped 2.3% and the rupiah fell nearly 0.9% in Friday trading, the steepest declines in Asia. Bond yields also spiked, reflecting investor unease. Analysts noted that the protests have increased market volatility, with foreign outflows intensifying over the past two days. Bank Indonesia said it was ready to intervene to stabilize the currency. Rights groups cautioned that failure to ensure accountability for Kurniawan’s death could deepen the crisis of trust between the government and its citizens.