Mass protests in Indonesia have escalated into violent clashes, leaving at least eight people dead, hundreds injured, and more than 1,200 arrested in Jakarta since Thursday, according to rights group KontraS. Around 20 protesters remain missing.

The unrest was triggered by viral footage showing elite paramilitary police running over 21-year-old delivery driver Affan Kurniawan, who later died. His death has become a symbol of growing anger against economic hardship, political detachment, and heavy-handed state responses.

Troops have been deployed across Jakarta and several other cities, including Surabaya, Bandung, Yogyakarta, and Makassar. Authorities have also restricted TikTok’s livestream feature, which had been used to organize demonstrations.

Protesters are rallying behind the “17+8” movement, demanding immediate government action on 17 urgent issues—among them an investigation into Kurniawan’s death, an end to military involvement in civilian security, and the release of detained demonstrators. They are also pressing for eight longer-term reforms, including changes to parliament, political parties, and the national police.

Civil society groups and Indonesians abroad have joined the mobilization, with activists in Germany and Southeast Asia expressing solidarity. Social media has become a hub for organizing aid, legal support, and counseling for demonstrators.

President Prabowo Subianto has condemned some protest actions as “treason and terrorism,” while instructing security forces to take firm action. Critics argue he has failed to address the deeper economic and political grievances driving the unrest, including rising unemployment, widening inequality, and unpopular parliamentary perks.

Human rights organizations warn that the militarized crackdown risks normalizing state violence against civilians. “The military is not trained to respond to peaceful protests,” said Amnesty International Indonesia’s Wirya Adiwena. “Deploying them against citizens reflects a dangerous mindset.”

Despite the repression, the movement continues to gain momentum, with solidarity efforts spreading across the region and citizens calling for reform, accountability, and protection of democratic freedoms.

BOB Post