A mob in Indonesia set fire to a parliament building in Makassar, leading to at least three fatalities and injuring five others who were hospitalized, according to local officials.
The fire broke out late Friday night in South Sulawesi’s capital.
Videos on television displayed flames engulfing state legislative buildings, casting an unsettling orange glow throughout the area.
By Saturday morning, rescue teams had reported recovering three bodies, while five individuals suffered injuries like burns and fractures after jumping from the building, as per local disaster official Fadri Tahar.
In a related protest in Bandung, West Java, the regional council was also set ablaze, but thankfully, there were no reported injuries.
Meanwhile, in Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city, demonstrators stormed the local police headquarters, damaging fences and vehicles.
In response, security forces deployed tear gas and water cannons, while protesters retaliated with fireworks and wooden clubs.
Saturday saw a return to calm in the capital, as authorities began clearing out bus shelters and police stations that had been damaged.
The protests, which began five days ago in Jakarta, were sparked by revelations that all 580 lawmakers would receive a substantial monthly housing allowance of $3,075 in addition to their regular salaries. This figure is nearly ten times the minimum wage in Jakarta, prompting significant backlash.
Critics characterize these allowances as excessive and, frankly, out of touch with the struggles many citizens currently face, especially with rising living costs, taxes, and unemployment.
Things escalated after the tragic death of a 21-year-old driver, Awan Kruniawang, during the protests.
A video circulating on social media showing his death during a demonstration in Jakarta shocked many and sparked further unrest against the security forces.
Reports indicated that Kruniawang was delivering food when he encountered an armored vehicle belonging to the National Police Mobile Brigade, which allegedly plowed into the crowd without stopping, tragically running him over.
Clashes have erupted not just in Jakarta but across several Indonesian cities, although the eastern Papua region has remained relatively quiet, including places like Medan, Solo, and Yogyakarta.
A recent report from the National Commission on Human Rights revealed that nearly 951 people were arrested during protests in Jakarta alone by Thursday. Additionally, about 25 officers were seriously injured in confrontations with protesters, although observers believe the number of community injuries is likely much higher.
On Saturday, Amnesty International condemned the Indonesian government, stating that it was stifling freedom of expression during these protests.
“No one should lose their life for exercising their right to protest,” said Usmanhamid, executive director of Amnesty International Indonesia, urging authorities to release anyone detained merely for asserting their rights.
In the aftermath of these events, it was confirmed that seven police officers linked to Jakarta’s incident were taken into custody for questioning.
