JAKARTA – Grief and fury swept through Indonesia’s capital of Jakarta as the family of 21-year-old Affan Kurniawan mourned the death of the

when a police tactical vehicle ploughed into him as a protest in Central Jakarta turned chaotic.

Surrounded by relatives and neighbours, his grief-stricken mother Erlina, who goes by one name, spoke through her tears to The Straits Times at her family home on Aug 29.

“I want the person who killed my son to get the harshest sanction by the law... He had just ended a food delivery and was about to pick up his next passenger,” the 41-year-old housemaid said. “He’s the backbone of our family, and worked very hard. He had been saving up money from his job to buy land and build a house for us back in our village in Lampung (in South Sumatra).”

The incident occurred during Jakarta’s second major protest in a week, fuelled by public anger

.

Protests continued in Jakarta on Aug 29 alongside hundreds of ride-hailing riders who also took part in Mr Affan’s funeral, accompanying the hearse in a long procession of motorbikes that wound its way through central Jakarta to the cemetery. Protesters outside the Jakarta police headquarters set fire to tyres and road barricades they had pulled from nearby. About 10km north, outside the Jakarta police mobile brigade headquarters, tear gas was fired after protesters threw firecrackers at police.

Similar rallies have also spread to other major cities in Indonesia, including Surabaya in East Java and Medan in North Sumatra province.

According to Madam Erlina, on the night of Aug 28, Mr Affan had just dropped off a delivery order when he became trapped in the chaos of a demonstration in Pejompongan, Central Jakarta.

A Brimob paramilitary tactical vehicle sped through the crowd, striking him before accelerating away.

At Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital late on Aug 28, Mr Affan’s relatives wept openly as National Police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo silently embraced one family member, who broke down on his shoulder.

The police chief visited the family to apologise publicly and promise that the police would take responsibility.

“I extend my deepest condolences to the late Mr Affan and also, of course, to his entire family,” he said. “We offer our sympathy and apology from our institution for this unfortunate incident.”

On Aug 29, the national police confirmed that seven officers had violated the force’s professional code of ethics in the incident and were placed under 20 days of special detention, effective the same day.

Mr Affan was the second of three children. His father works odd jobs and the family relied heavily on Mr Affan’s earnings to keep the household afloat. Neighbours described him as diligent and conscientious, someone who never caused trouble.

In a video message on Aug 29, President Prabowo Subianto

. He condemned the officers’ excessive actions and called for a thorough investigation.

“I am shocked and disappointed by the excessive actions of the officers. I have ordered that last night’s incident be thoroughly and transparently investigated, and that the officers involved must be held accountable. Should it be found that they acted improperly and outside the rules in force, we will take the strictest action in accordance with the law,” he said.

He also hinted at “elements who always want unrest and chaos”, urging Indonesians to remain vigilant.

“In a situation like this, I appeal to all citizens to remain calm and to have trust in the government that I lead. The government that I lead will do its best for our people,” he added.

Elite perks and deepening anger

Videos circulating on social media showed the Brimob vehicle barrelling into the crowd. Protesters scattered, but Mr Affan did not escape in time. Footage captured the vehicle striking him, briefly slowing, then accelerating again over his body before fleeing the scene.

Voices could be heard screaming that he had been run over. Outraged demonstrators chased the vehicle, throwing objects and demanding accountability.

Throughout the week, a series of protests erupted across Indonesia’s cities, reflecting mounting frustration with the political elite.

Thousands of demonstrators had clashed with police outside the House of Representatives (DPR) on Aug 25, hurling rocks, firecrackers and sharpened bamboo sticks. Police responded with water cannon and tear gas.

At the heart of the outrage is a new allowances package for lawmakers, announced on Aug 19. Legislators now receive 50 million rupiah (S$3,920) a month for housing, 12 million rupiah for food, and 7 million rupiah for transport, on top of a base salary of 6.5 million rupiah – roughly 14 times Jakarta’s minimum wage.

On Aug 28, labour groups staged protests in Jakarta and other cities, demanding an end to outsourcing and low wages. Weeks earlier, demonstrations had flared in Java and South Sumatra after local governments imposed tax increases of up to 250 per cent.

Taken together, these crises have laid bare the widening gap between political leaders and the grassroots, and could escalate into a broader legitimacy challenge for the state.

For many Indonesians, the hefty allowances package was the last straw. Rising costs of rice and school fees, mass layoffs in industries such as textiles, and sharp property tax hikes in several provinces had already strained household budgets.

On Aug 29, House Speaker Puan Maharani also expressed condolences and called on the police to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation. She pledged that Parliament would monitor the process to ensure accountability.

“We apologise if we have not fully been able to carry out our duties as representatives of the people. DPR will continue to improve in listening to the people’s aspirations,” she said.

The allowances controversy has become a rallying point for broader anger over living costs and political privilege.

“Parliament must be dissolved. Do not retreat. Our fight is not over,” shouted one protester at the Aug 28 rally.

‘A life for a life’

For Jakarta’s ride-hailing drivers, grief has turned into a rallying cry. After Mr Affan was struck, motorcycle drivers prowled the streets until the early morning, shouting “Justice for Affan!” and “A life for a life”.

Videos of Mr Affan’s death have gone viral, with hashtags demanding accountability spreading across social media.

Speaking to ST at Mr Affan’s funeral, fellow motorcycle taxi rider Ryanto Kusnadi, 41, said Mr Affan always shared with his friends the breakfasts his mother made – fried tofu, banana fritters and lontong.

“Affan was very hardworking, humorous and generous,” he said.

Another rider, Mr Irvan Sodirin, 30, said: “We want to show our solidarity with Affan and express our disappointment. Police should protect people, not harm them.”

Students also turned out in force, including Mr Fatih Raihan, 18, a first-year student at Bogor Agricultural University, who joined hundreds of peers outside the Jakarta metropolitan police headquarters to demand justice for Mr Affan.

He admitted that he did not usually take part in demonstrations, but the incident compelled him to act. “We came to urge the authorities to bring to justice those behind the killing of the Gojek driver,” he told ST.

Political analysts have warned that demonstrations could intensify if the government continues to appear distant from the people. Civil rights groups have condemned police heavy-handedness.

Amnesty International Indonesia’s executive director Usman Hamid said in a statement on Aug 28: “We understand the complexities on the ground where officers must use force to handle situations involving violence. But it must not be excessive.”

He added: “Actions taken must be truly necessary, proportional and accountable. What is seen, however, are disproportionate actions such as tear gas, beatings and arbitrary arrests. Every citizen has the right to express opinions without intervention, including through demonstrations.”