Denpasar, Bali – Hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the Bali Regional Police Headquarters (Polda Bali) on Jalan WR Supradman, Denpasar, on Saturday (30/08/2025), singing the national anthem, Indonesia Raya, as part of a demonstration demanding justice following the death of ride-share driver Affan Kurniawan in Jakarta.
The protest was captured in a YouTube Shorts video by Yoga Wuzwuz, showing participants marching and chanting for reform in the Indonesian National Police after Affan, 21, was run over by a Brimob tactical vehicle in Central Jakarta, on Thursday night (28/08/2025).
According to Kombespol Ariasandy, Head of Public Relations at Polda Bali, the demonstration began around 11:00 WITA with approximately 300 participants.
The crowd included university students, ride-share drivers, representatives from non-governmental organizations (LSM), the Legal Aid Institute (LBH), and the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP).
The protesters voiced several demands, including a total reform of the Indonesian National Police. After rallying in front of Polda Bali, the group continued their march toward the Bali Regional House of Representatives (DPRD Bali).
During the protest, 22 people were arrested for actions in front of the police headquarters. Authorities had anticipated demonstrations in Bali following nationwide protests sparked by Affan’s death, which have also occurred in cities including Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, Malang, Blitar, Kediri, Solo, Yogyakarta, and Makassar.
In response to rising unrest, TikTok announced on Saturday that it would temporarily suspend its live-streaming feature in Indonesia “for the next few days” to maintain safety on its platform.
“In light of the increasing violence in protests in Indonesia, we are taking additional security measures to keep TikTok a safe and civil space. As part of this measure, we are voluntarily suspending the TikTok LIVE feature for the next few days in Indonesia,” TikTok said.
Social media has been flooded with hashtags such as #1312 and #ACAB, a reference to the controversial acronym “All Cops Are Bastards,” where the numbers 1-3-1-2 correspond to the letters of the phrase.
Before Driver Killed, What Triggered Protest in the First Place?
The protests initially began on 25 August 2025, after Ahmad Sahroni, Deputy of Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), made a statement calling citizens who demanded the dissolution of the DPR “dumb.”
“That kind of thinking is the dumbest in the world. Anyone who just says ‘dissolve the DPR’ is utterly foolish. Are we all geniuses? Are we never wrong?” Sahroni said during a working visit to Polda North Sumatra on Friday (22/8/2025). His remarks ignited public outrage.
Ferry Irwandi, former civil servant at the Ministry of Finance and founder of the educational YouTube channel Malaka Project, criticized Sahroni’s comments, emphasizing that no member of parliament can hold their position without votes from the public.
The protests have also resonated with Indonesian communities abroad. Daffa Al Falah, an Indonesian student in the UK, shared via Instagram Reels:
“Our taxes pay for your weapons, uniforms, and vehicles. You are not our rulers. You are supposed to serve us, yet you use your power to trample on us.”
