On August 29, 2025, the heart of Jakarta pulsed with tension, anger, and grief as thousands gathered in protest after the death of a young delivery rider, Affan Kurniawan. The 21-year-old’s tragic end—allegedly run over by a police armored vehicle during a demonstration—sparked not just outrage in Indonesia’s capital, but a wave of unrest that swept through cities across the archipelago.
The events unfolded in a blur of chaos and heartbreak. According to the Associated Press, the trouble began the previous evening, when riot police clashed with students protesting against lawmakers’ allowances. In the midst of the melee, Kurniawan, who was reportedly completing a food delivery service order, found himself caught between surging demonstrators and advancing police vehicles. Witnesses told local television that an armored car from the National Police’s Mobile Brigade unit suddenly sped through the crowd. "Instead of stopping, the car ran over him," one witness recounted, a moment captured in a widely circulated video that would soon shock the nation.
By dawn the next day, the air in Jakarta was thick with a mix of smoke, grief, and fury. Crowds—many of them online motorcycle taxi (ojol) drivers like Kurniawan—converged outside the police mobile brigade headquarters in the city’s Kwitang neighborhood. They hurled bottles, rocks, and flares at police, who responded with water cannons and volleys of tear gas. The AP reported that some protesters attempted to storm the compound, while others destroyed traffic signs and infrastructure, bringing traffic to a grinding halt.
The unrest was not confined to the capital. Clashes between demonstrators and riot police broke out in Surabaya, Solo, Yogyakarta, Medan, Makassar, Manado, Bandung, and even Manokwari in Papua. According to ANTARA, the protests were triggered by mounting anger over lawmakers’ allowances—a monthly housing stipend of 50 million rupiah (about $3,075) awarded to all 580 members of parliament, nearly 10 times Jakarta’s minimum wage. Critics called the allowance excessive and insensitive, especially as most Indonesians grapple with soaring living costs, rising taxes, and persistent unemployment.
As the day wore on, the violence escalated. In Kwitang, rioters set fire to a five-story building near the police compound, trapping several people inside. In a rare moment of unity amid chaos, some student protesters paused their demonstrations to help soldiers and residents rescue those trapped by the flames. The AP described scenes of confusion and heroism, with the crowd’s anger momentarily replaced by urgency to save lives.
Efforts to calm the unrest came from unexpected quarters. Around 9:45 a.m., TNI AL (Navy) soldiers approached the protesters, urging restraint and helping to diffuse the tension. ANTARA observed that their intervention gradually de-escalated the situation, preventing further violence outside the Brimob headquarters. Still, the sense of injustice lingered, with many in the crowd demanding accountability for Kurniawan’s death.
National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo moved quickly to address the tragedy. On Friday morning, he visited Kurniawan’s family at a Jakarta hospital, offering a personal apology. "We will hold a meeting. Rest assured that we will handle every single problem," he told reporters. The police confirmed that seven members of the motor brigade unit who were inside the armored vehicle had been detained and questioned, though the identity of the driver remained undisclosed. Inspector General Abdul Karim, head of the Polri Professional and Security Division, assured the public that the investigation would be conducted transparently.
President Prabowo Subianto, himself a former general, addressed the nation in a televised speech, expressing condolences and urging calm. "I am deeply concerned and deeply saddened by this incident," he said. "I was shocked and disappointed by the officers’ excessive actions." Subianto emphasized his commitment to a thorough investigation and called on citizens to "remain vigilant against elements that constantly stir up unrest and seek chaos." He added, "In a situation like this, I urge all citizens to remain calm and trust in the government I lead, which will do what’s best for the people."
The outpouring of grief was as intense as the anger. Thousands of motorcycle riders, rights activists, and politicians gathered in Jakarta to pay their respects to Kurniawan during his burial. The crowd filled a major traffic circle and spilled onto the city’s main thoroughfares, a visible sign of solidarity and sorrow. The Associated Press reported that the protests had entered their fifth consecutive day, underscoring the depth of public frustration not just with lawmakers’ privileges, but with what many see as a pattern of police brutality and impunity.
For many Indonesians, the incident was a tipping point. The viral video of Kurniawan’s death became a rallying cry, prompting calls for reform and justice. Critics of the government seized on the moment to highlight longstanding grievances: the disconnect between political elites and ordinary citizens, the lack of transparency in law enforcement, and the slow pace of accountability for abuses of power. Lawmakers’ housing allowances, once a relatively obscure budget line, suddenly became a symbol of inequality and official insensitivity.
Yet, as the dust settled over Jakarta and other cities, questions remained. Would the promised investigation yield real accountability? Would the tragedy of Affan Kurniawan’s death lead to meaningful change, or would it fade into memory as just another episode in Indonesia’s long struggle with police violence and political privilege?
For now, the streets of Jakarta bear the scars of a turbulent day—burned buildings, battered signs, and the lingering scent of tear gas. But they also bear witness to a nation grappling with its conscience, demanding answers, and, perhaps, hoping for a different future.
