Tragic Fire Claims Lives Amid Escalating Protests in Indonesia
Three individuals lost their lives and five others sustained injuries in a fire that engulfed a regional parliament building in Makassar during widespread protests across Indonesia. These demonstrations, the largest in years, have been fueled by public outrage over police violence and government privileges, reports 24brussels.
The incident occurred on August 29, 2025, as anger mounted following the death of a motorcycle delivery driver, Affan Kurniawan, who was killed by a police vehicle during earlier protests. Indonesia’s disaster management agency confirmed the deaths the following day, with authorities noting that the victims were trapped inside the burning building.
“From last night’s incident, three people died. Two died at the scene, and one died at the hospital. They were trapped in the burning building,” stated Rahmat Mappatoba, secretary of the Makassar city council, attributing the fire to protesters who stormed and set ablaze the parliament. Reports indicate that among the injured, two individuals were hurt while attempting to escape the flames.
This fire incident reflects the growing unrest in Indonesia, triggered not only by Kurniawan’s death but also by long-standing grievances regarding economic inequality and police brutality. Protests have erupted in multiple cities, including Bandung, where demonstrators set fire to a bank and a restaurant, and Jakarta, where hundreds confronted the Mobile Brigade Corps (Brimob), the police unit involved in Kurniawan’s death.
On August 29, police deployed tear gas as protesters attempted to breach the gates of the Brimob headquarters. The tensions reignited further on August 30, with local media reporting renewed attempts by young demonstrators to march on the headquarters, only to be met with barricades.
Authorities announced that seven police officers would be investigated concerning Kurniawan’s death, as more than 200 protesters were reported injured across the nation. “This is different than other recent protests,” noted Juan Robin, a journalist with Narasi, highlighting the aggressive response from law enforcement including extensive use of tear gas.
In response to the escalating violence, President Prabowo Subianto has called for calm, visited Kurniawan’s family, and ordered a comprehensive investigation, cautioning that protests were devolving into anarchic behavior. The unrest has significantly disrupted daily life in Jakarta, leading to service halts on the city’s rapid transit system, and impairing the Transjakarta bus company’s operations.
