Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – Indonesian police announced Wednesday that nearly 1,000 people have been named suspects in connection with violent protests that erupted across 12 provinces since late August, leaving 10 people dead and extensive public facilities damaged.
Commissioner General Syahardiantono, head of the National Police's Criminal Investigation Agency, said the suspects include 295 minors. Charges range from incitement and vandalism to arson, theft, assault, hate speech, and possession of weapons and explosives.
"Law enforcement is being applied only to those involved in riots, not to citizens who protested peacefully," Syahardiantono stressed at a press conference in Jakarta.
According to police, suspects are spread across the country as follows:
- East Java: 325 suspects (185 adults, 140 minors) from 85 cases
- Jakarta: 232 suspects (200 adults, 32 minors) from 36 cases
- Central Java: 136 suspects (80 adults, 56 minors) from 40 cases
- West Java: 111 suspects (80 adults, 31 minors) from 30 cases
- South Sumatra: 26 suspects from 12 cases
- South Sulawesi: 58 suspects from 10 cases
- Bali: 14 suspects from four cases
- West Nusa Tenggara: 21 suspects from two cases
- West Kalimantan: four suspects from three cases
- East Kalimantan: seven suspects from one case
- West Sulawesi: two suspects from two cases
From protests to violence
The unrest began on August 25 with demonstrations against lawmakers' high salaries and allowances, such as a housing stipend of Rp 50 million ($3,000) per month.
Initially confined to the parliament complex in Jakarta, tensions escalated after a police armored vehicle struck and killed a motorcycle taxi driver, Affan Kurniawan, 28, on August 28. His death triggered wider riots in several provinces.
The protests represent one of the most serious waves of unrest in Indonesia in recent years, underscoring growing public anger over political privilege and accountability.
In Jakarta, protesters set fire to police stations and bus shelters. In Kediri and Makassar, local parliament buildings were burned to the ground. The Makassar incident left three people dead after being trapped in the blaze, while another motorcycle taxi driver was beaten to death by a mob on suspicion of being a police informant.
Other fatalities were linked to both clashes and alleged excessive use of force by security personnel. Police said seven officers involved in the armored vehicle incident faced an ethics tribunal, with one dismissed from the force.
Rioters also looted the homes of four lawmakers known for controversial statements, as well as the residence of former Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, who has since been replaced by Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa.
Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/news/nearly-1000-charged-over-violent-protests-across-12-indonesian-province