Police Officer Dismissed After Armored Vehicle Kills Delivery Driver
Public Outrage and Solidarity Movements Continue Nationwide
Ten Dead, Twenty Missing as Protests Spread Across Indonesia
Citizens Take to the Streets with Brooms, Demanding an End to Privileges and Corruption
Women’s and Student Groups Join the Movement
Support from South Korea and Malaysia Grows Through Gojek and Grab Orders
A police officer in Jakarta, Indonesia, has been dismissed after fatally striking a motorcycle delivery driver with an armored vehicle while dispersing protests against parliamentary privileges. Despite this disciplinary action, public outrage and solidarity movements continue across the country.
On September 4 (local time), the Indonesian National Police announced the dishonorable discharge of Kosmas Kayu Gae for violating professional ethics. He was one of seven officers involved in the incident on August 28, when delivery driver Afan Kurniawan (21) was killed during the dispersal of protesters in the capital, Jakarta. A police spokesperson stated, "It was an act that deserved criticism for its unprofessional response." The disciplinary measures for the remaining six officers involved have not yet been determined.
The victim was a motorcycle driver affiliated with a ride-sharing platform. Footage of the incident spread rapidly on social media, sparking nationwide outrage. Protests have expanded across the country, and so far, ten people have died and twenty are missing due to arson and clashes.
The controversy began last September when it was revealed that each of the 580 members of parliament had been receiving a monthly housing allowance of 50 million rupiah (about 430,000 won), an amount ten times the minimum wage in Jakarta. Citizens struggling with economic hardship took to the streets with brooms, declaring, "Let's sweep away the filth of the nation." Women's groups and student organizations have intensified their demands, calling for the release of detained protesters and investigations into police violence.
Solidarity movements have also spread overseas. Citizens in countries such as Malaysia and South Korea have shown support by ordering food for Indonesian motorcycle drivers through platforms like Gojek and Grab. On social media, order confirmation photos have been shared along with notes asking drivers to either take the food themselves or share it with their families.
People have also expressed symbolic support by changing their profile pictures to pink (the color of hijabs worn by female protesters) and green (the color of clothing worn by the deceased delivery driver). Dira (28, alias), a Jakarta resident, told AFP, "What we need now is solidarity with one another."
The Indonesian government and parliament have decided to abolish the controversial housing allowance and other parliamentary privileges, and have announced a tough response to acts of arson and looting during the protests. While some businesses and schools have recently returned to normal operations from remote work and online classes, street protests are still ongoing.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
