Protests erupted across Indonesia on Friday, 29 August 2025, following a tragic incident where a police vehicle ran over and killed an online motorcycle taxi (ojol) driver during a demonstration.
The protests, initially focused on Jakarta, rapidly spread to other major cities. These cities includes Bandung, Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Makassar, and Medan.
The unrest began with a peaceful protest on Thursday, 27 August, at the Brimob headquarters in Kwitang, Jakarta.
What initially began as protests calling for justice over labor and government policies quickly escalated after a police tactical vehicle ran over and killed ojol driver Affan Kurniawan.
The incident, captured on video, spread rapidly across social media, fueling anger and demands for accountability.
Affan’s death ignited a surge in protests, with protesters demanding justice for him and condemning the use of excessive force by the police.
The incident quickly became the focal point of the protests, overshadowing previous grievances with the Indonesian Parliament (DPR), particularly around issues such as the proposed salary increases for DPR members
In Jakarta, demonstrators gathered at both the Polda Metro Jaya and Brimob headquarters, with the demands now unified: justice for Affan and an end to police violence during the protests.
