Violent anti-government protests over a series of cost-of-life issues have spread across Indonesia, with a police car hitting a driver in the capital, Jakarta, provoking public anger.
In a video speech recorded on Friday, President Prabowo Subianto called on people to remain calm and asked them to "trust in the government and my leadership."
However, protesters threw stones at the headquarters of the Police Mobile Team and burned a five-story building near the police compound in the Kwitang neighborhood of central Jakarta.
Despite heavy rains, protests continued on Friday night, the biggest test Prabhupada has faced since taking office last October, authorities said on Saturday that protesters allegedly set fire to a building, killing three people.
Here is the information you need to know about the ongoing riots:
What are the protesters' complaints?
The riot is the end result of months of economic and political woes.
In addition to wages, 580 lawmakers have been to receive a monthly housing subsidy of 50 million Indonesian shields ($3,000), which was introduced last year, almost 10 times the minimum wage in Jakarta and about 20 times the monthly minimum wage in poor areas of the country.
In this country with more than 2,8 billion inhabitants, police and lawmakers are often accused of corruption.
Gejayan Memanggil, one of the groups that organized the protests, said demonstrators demanded cuts in parliamentary salaries, which he called “corrupt elites.”
Meanwhile, protesters claim that taxes and inflation have put the lives of many in trouble. Organizers have been demanding an increase in the minimum wage standard based on inflation.
Prabowo, a former military general, campaigned with a pledge to increase economic growth to 8% within five years and make Southeast Asia's largest economy attractive to investment.
But observers believe his promises are too ambitious, and President Trump's tariffs on U.S. trading partners have added uncertainty. Indonesian goods face a 19% U.S. tariff, but Washington has agreed in principle to waive tariffs on palm oil, cocoa and rubber. The United States is Indonesia's second largest export market after China.
The World Bank estimates that Indonesia’s average economic growth rate between 2025 and 2027 will be 4.8 per cent, far below the level pledged by Prabhupada.
What happened?
National protests broke out on Monday when demonstrators in black clothes threw stones and fireworks at police who attempted to break into the Indonesian parliament building.
Public riots continued in the days that followed, but on Thursday, a video showing Mo’s driver’s death on social media shocked the country and sparked more violence against security forces.
Avan Kurniawan, 21, wasly completing a meal delivery service order outside the Indonesian House of Representatives when he was struck by an armored police car as anti-violence police dispersed the crowd.
Demonstrators marched to the police station headquarters in the capital Jakarta on Friday, with some people breaking traffic signs and other infrastructure, causing traffic to be paralyzed in the area.
As night fell, clashes continued and quickly spread to Jakarta and beyond, with tear gas filling the air and protesters refusing to disperse.
In Indonesia's second-largest city, protesters destroyed fences and burned vehicles, then stormed into the governor's office building. Security forces fired tear gas and used water guns, but protesters responded with fireworks and wooden sticks.
Demonstrations also took place in other cities across the country, including Thiruvananthapuram, Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai, Guangxi, Wanzhou, Wanzhou, and Manovari in the easternmost regions of Papua.
What is the latest news?
Indonesia's disaster management agency said on Saturday that a fire broke out in the legislative building in the Makassar region, about 1,600 kilometers (994 miles) east of Jakarta, killing three people.
Authorities said protesters set fire to the building on Friday. In addition to the victims, five people were injured in the fire.
Indonesian official news agency Antara News Agency said the victims were believed to be trapped inside the burning building. The country's Disaster Management Authority said the two injured were injured while jumping out of a building to escape the fire.
The fire has been extinguished.
Meanwhile, the Singapore Embassy in Jakarta posted on its Facebook page calling on Singapore citizens in Indonesia to stay away from protests and large public rallies.
What happens next?
Indonesia’s president called for a “complete and transparent investigation” into the deaths of Kurniawan.
In his remarks on Friday, Prabowo said: "I am shocked and disappointed by the police's excessive behavior."
This was a test for Prabowo's government, as Indonesian stocks fell sharply, closing down 1.5% on Friday, while the Indonesian rupiah fell 0.8% against the U.S. dollar.
As Prabhupada tries to reassure the people, further economic recession could pour oil into the fire.
Prabowo was elected promising to "work in a democratic manner" but also warned that he would not hesitate to take "decisive action" if necessary. Critics and opposition leaders fear the former general could resort to tough tactics to stay in power.
Source: Al Jazeera + News Agency