MAKASSAR, Indonesia: A wave of protests across Indonesia turned fatal on Friday, resulting in three deaths and five injuries after a regional parliament building in Makassar was set ablaze by demonstrators. The incident, which authorities confirmed on Saturday, represents the most significant civil unrest and first major domestic challenge for President Prabowo Subianto’s administration, which took office just last October. The cause of the deaths was not officially stated, though news reports suggest the victims were trapped inside the burning building.
The protests originated earlier in the week in the capital, Jakarta, initially sparked by public outcry over a proposed bill that would significantly increase salaries and benefits for members of parliament. The demonstrations escalated dramatically on Friday following a separate, tragic incident where a police armored vehicle struck and killed a ride-hailing motorbike driver. This event fueled public anger, leading to isolated looting, damage to transportation facilities in Jakarta, and solidarity protests in other major cities like Bandung and Yogyakarta.
In response to the growing crisis, President Prabowo made a personal visit to the deceased driver’s family late on Friday to offer his condolences and publicly vow to oversee a thorough investigation into the death. His direct involvement underscores the government’s concern over the rapid escalation of events. The disaster management agency reported that two of the injuries in Makassar were a result of people jumping from the parliament building to escape the fire.
By Saturday, there were no immediate signs of continued protests, but the aftermath of the unrest was still being felt. Jakarta’s mass rapid transit system bypassed a station near the protest site, and the major Transjakarta bus service reported ongoing disruptions. The government now faces the dual challenge of addressing the public’s grievances over legislative self-enrichment and ensuring that law enforcement actions do not further inflame social tensions.
