In Indonesia, a fire set by protesters at a regional parliament building resulted in three deaths and five injuries, authorities reported on Saturday. This incident is a significant challenge for President Prabowo Subianto’s administration.
The nation’s disaster management agency did not specify the causes of the fatalities in the Friday night fire in Makassar, South Sulawesi’s capital.
According to Antara news agency, the deceased were allegedly trapped inside the burning building. The disaster agency noted that two injuries were due to people leaping from the structure.
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Protests erupted in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, earlier this week over lawmakers’ salaries and escalated on Friday after a police armored vehicle collided with and killed a ride-hailing motorbike driver.
President Prabowo, who assumed office last October, visited the driver’s family on Friday evening, offering condolences and promising to lead the investigation into the incident.
Local reports indicated sporadic looting in Jakarta and damage to transport facilities in Bandung and Yogyakarta amid protests.
On Saturday, Jakarta’s mass rapid transit system bypassed a station near the protest site, and the Transjakarta bus service suspended operations.
No protests were reported on Saturday.
A significant challenge
In Jakarta, crowds gathered outside the elite Mobile Brigade Corp (Brimob) paramilitary police headquarters, accusing them of the driver’s death. Protesters hurled firecrackers as police used tear gas.
Some demonstrators attempted to dismantle the gates and remove a sign from the building in chaotic scenes.
Police detained seven officers for questioning about the driver’s death.
The protests represent the largest and most violent challenge for President Prabowo Subianto, testing his leadership as he quickly called for calm and launched an investigation.
Prabowo aims for rapid, state-driven growth but has faced criticism for budget cuts to support populist policies, including a billion-dollar free meal program.
Protests also spread on Friday to major Indonesian cities like Yogyakarta, Bandung, Semarang, Surabaya, and Medan in North Sumatra.
(With inputs from AFP)
