Indonesia protest blaze kills three as anger erupts over driver death

MAKASSAR, Indonesia: At least three people were killed by a fire started by protesters at a council building in eastern Indonesia’s Makassar city, a local official told AFP Saturday, after demonstrations across the country following the death of a motorcycle taxi driver hit by a police vehicle.

The country was rocked by protests in major cities including the capital Jakarta on Friday, after footage spread of a gig motorcycle driver being run over by a police tactical vehicle in earlier rallies over low wages and perceived lavish perks for lawmakers.

Protests in Makassar, the biggest city on Sulawesi island, descended into chaos outside the provincial and local city council buildings which were both set on fire and vehicles torched as protesters hurled rocks and Molotov cocktails.

Three people were killed as a result of the fire at the Makassar city council building, its secretary Rahmat Mappatoba told AFP.

“They were trapped in the burning building,” he said, accusing protesters of storming the office to set it on fire.

“This is beyond our prediction, usually during a demonstration, protesters only threw rocks or burn a tyre in front of the office. They never stormed into the building or burned it.”

Two of the victims were staff at the local council and another was a civil servant. Two died at the scene while the third died in hospital.

At least four people were injured in the fire and were being treated at hospital, the official said.

The fire has since been extinguished.

Hundreds of people were seen in footage posted by local media cheering and clapping as fire engulfed the building with few security forces in sight.

One man was heard shouting: “there are people upstairs!”

In footage verified by AFP, smouldering debris was seen falling from the roof of the city council building surrounded by palm trees as charred cars flickered with flames.

Images showed the South Sulawesi provincial council building ablaze overnight. Protesters had tried to knock down the gate and storm it.

Makassar and South Sulawesi police did not immediately respond to AFP’s requests for comments.

Prabowo test

In Jakarta, hundreds massed outside the headquarters of the elite Mobile Brigade Corp (Brimob) paramilitary police unit they blamed for motorcycle gig driver Affan Kuniawan’s death on Thursday, throwing firecrackers as police responded with tear gas.

A group of protesters tried to tear down the gates of the unit, notorious for its heavy-handed tactics, and pulled a sign from the building’s facade in chaotic scenes.

Police said they had detained seven officers for questioning in connection with the driver’s death.

The protests were the biggest and most violent of Prabowo Subianto’s presidency, a key test less than a year into his rule that forced him to quickly urge calm, order an investigation and visit the family of the dead driver.

“I have ordered last night’s incident to be thoroughly and transparently investigated, and that the officers involved be held accountable,” he said in a statement.

In a message posted on Instagram later Friday, Prabowo said the government was “committed to guaranteeing the livelihood” of the driver’s family, posting images with them at their home.

He has pledged fast, state-driven growth but has already faced protests for widespread government budget cuts to fund his populist policies including a billion-dollar free meal programme.

Protests also spread to other major cities, including Yogyakarta, Bandung, Semarang and Surabaya in Java and Medan in North Sumatra province.