Three Dead in Makassar Protest Fire Amid Indonesia-Wide Unrest

Protests erupted across major Indonesian cities, including Jakarta and Makassar, following the death of 21-year-old motorcycle taxi driver Affan Kurniawan, who was run over by a police tactical vehicle during previous rallies against low wages and perceived lavish allowances for lawmakers. In Makassar, the unrest escalated when protesters stormed and set fire to the provincial and city council buildings, resulting in the deaths of three people trapped inside, including two council staff and a civil servant, and injuring several others. The violence marked a significant challenge for President Prabowo Subianto’s government, who has vowed to oversee the investigation into the driver's death after visiting his family. In Jakarta, demonstrators targeted the elite Mobile Brigade Corp police unit, known for its heavy-handed tactics, while police responded with tear gas. The protests caused disruptions to public transportation and reports of isolated looting in Jakarta and other cities such as Bandung and Yogyakarta. Authorities are questioning seven police officers in connection with Kurniawan's death, but the driver of the vehicle has not been publicly named.