On August 30, protests continued to break out in many cities such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung and Medan after the death of Affan Kurniawan, 21, a Gojek driver died when he was hit by a police car during a protest on the night of August 28. This event sparked a long-standing wave of resentment over escalating living costs, unemployment and social inequality.
The next day, Kurniawan's funeral took place in a funeral atmosphere but also filled with anger. Thousands of colleagues wearing Gojek's signature blue shirt escorted him to his final resting place. Drone images show the extended lines of people and motorbikes, turning the funeral into a quiet resistance parade. Many politicians, including former Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan and lawmaker Rieke Dyah Pitaloka, attended and called for a transparent investigation into the incident.
However, the official apology from President Prabowo Subianto and Jakarta Police Commander Asep Edi Suheri was not enough to appease the crowd. protests continued outside the central police headquarters in the Kwitang area, Jakarta, holding banners "Fight arrest immediately".
The police deployed dragon hops, spicy air and barriers to stop the group, while many groups of young men threw rocks, flares and petrol bombs in response. Despite heavy rain, the tense atmosphere continues to escalate.
A notable development is that 7 members of the Satbrimob mobile task force were concluded to have violated professional ethics, raising suspicions that Kurniawan's death was not simply an "unintended accident" as initially stated.
These protests do not stop at asking for justice for a technology driver. The focus of public dissatisfaction is the new policy that allows lawmakers to receive a 50 million rupiah allowance (equivalent to 3,030 USD) per month - nearly 10 times the minimum wage in Jakarta. In the context of escalating prices, unemployment and high taxes, this policy is considered a symbol of reality and injustice.
President Prabowo publicly apologized to the victim's family, saying he was "shocked and disappointed by the excessive actions of the authorities". However, many observers believe that these commitments are unlikely to stop the wave of outrage spreading across the country.
Gojek, where Kurniawan works, also issued a statement affirming: Behind each blue shirt is a family, a sacrifice. The departure of Affan Kurniawan leaves an unfulfilling void. Gojek said he would provide comprehensive support to the victim's family.
