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Indonesia Descends into Chaos as Protests Turn Violent Nationwide

Strategic Insights

Aug 30, 2025 — 1 min read

Violent protests erupted across Indonesia, with demonstrators targeting government buildings, setting fire to parliament houses, and storming police headquarters. The widespread unrest has left a trail of destruction and casualties, with at least three people dead and several others hospitalized. The protests began five days ago in Jakarta, sparked by reports of lawmakers receiving a hefty housing allowance, and have since spread to other regions, including South Sulawesi, West Java, and Surabaya.

Key Takeaways:

At least three people have been killed and five others hospitalized in the blaze at the provincial council building in Makassar, South Sulawesi province.
Protesters in West Java's Bandung city set a regional parliament ablaze on Friday, with no casualties reported.
Demonstrators in Surabaya, Indonesia's second-largest city, stormed the regional police headquarters after destroying fences and torching vehicles.
Foreign embassies in Jakarta have advised their citizens to avoid demonstration areas or large public gatherings due to the escalating protests.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto cancelled his planned visit to China, citing the nationwide protests.
National Police Chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo has vowed to restore public order, using force to suppress the protests.
The protests began five days ago in Jakarta, sparked by reports of lawmakers receiving a monthly housing allowance of 50 million rupiah (more than $4,100 Canadian).

Statistics:

At least 3 people have been killed in the Makassar parliament building blaze.
5 people have been hospitalized with burns or broken bones after jumping from the building.
Protesters in Surabaya stormed the regional police headquarters, destroying fences and torching vehicles.
580 lawmakers receive a monthly housing allowance of 50 million rupiah.
The housing allowance is almost 10 times the Jakarta minimum wage.
21-year-old ride-hailing driver Affan Kurniawan died during a rally in Jakarta, sparking a national outcry against security forces.

Sources:

The Associated Press
[AP News Article](https://www.apnews.com)
Juni Kriswanto/AFP via Getty Images

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