Indonesia erupts in flames: Protests over lawmaker perks, tragic death spark nationwide fury

Widespread unrest and fires have erupted across major Indonesian cities, killing six people.

The reason: a combination of economic grievances, public outrage over lawmakers’ privileges, and a fatal incident involving police violence. 

'Dark Indonesia' movement

The 2025 Indosia protests, often referred to as the "Dark Indonesia" movement, signify deep public discontent with economic, political, and social issues under President Prabowo Subianto’s administration.

These protests, which escalated in August 2025, reflect frustrations over rising joblessness, inflation, perceived lavish parliamentary allowances, budget cuts, and controversial policies like the "free meal" programme. 

Affected cities

Protests and related incidents, including fires, have been reported in:

• Jakarta: Epicentre of protests, with clashes near the House of Representatives and police headquarters. Protesters set fire to a building in the Kwitang neighbourhood, and the home of Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati was looted.

• Makassar: A regional parliament building was set ablaze on August 29, killing three people trapped inside and injuring five others.

• Surabaya: Protesters stormed the governor’s office, set vehicles on fire, and clashed with police using tear gas and water cannons.

• Bandung: The People’s Consultative Assembly guesthouse was set on fire, and protests involved clashes with security forces.

• Yogyakarta, Solo, Medan, Manado, Manokwari, Semarang, Mamuju, Blitar, Pekalongan, Cirebon, Bali, West Nusa Tenggara: Protests involved vandalism, arson, and confrontations with police.

• Pati (Central Java): Protests erupted over a proposed 250% land and building tax increase, drawing up to 100,000 people.

Death of Affan, motorcycle tricycle driver

The death of Affan Kurniawan, a 21-year-old motorcycle taxi driver killed by a police vehicle on August 28, 2025, during a protest in Jakarta, acted as a catalyst.

It intensified public anger and sparked violent demonstrations nationwide.

The protests also highlight concerns about police brutality, military overreach in civilian affairs, and systemic corruption, echoing historical grievances from Indonesia’s authoritarian past.

Kurniawan, reportedly completing a food delivery order, was struck and killed by a police armoured vehicle (Rimueng 4x4) during clashes near Indonesia’s House of Representatives in Jakarta.

Video footage of the incident, showing the vehicle running over Kurniawan after briefly stopping, went viral, drawing comparisons to the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre and fuelling nationwide outrage.

Protesters, including fellow ride-hailing drivers, stormed police headquarters, set fires, and demanded accountability, with seven officers detained for questioning.

Violent clashes and fires

Following Kurniawan’s death, the protest led to violent clashes across cities like Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, and Makassar.

Demonstrators set fire to government buildings, including a regional parliament in Makassar, where three people died after being trapped in the blaze on August 29, 2025.

In Jakarta, protesters burned cars, bus stops, and a five-story building near the police Mobile Brigade headquarters, with clashes involving tear gas, water cannons, and rock-throwing.

The unrest, the most significant challenge to President Prabowo’s administration, was exacerbated by perceptions of police brutality and corruption among elites.

The economic inequality, the tragic death of Kurniawan, and subsequent violent protests created a volatile situation, leading to widespread unrest and fires across Indonesia in August 2025.