Indonesia Protests: Parliament Building Set on Fire, Three Killed
On Friday, during protests in Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi Province in Indonesia, the parliament building was set on fire, according to local officials and media, with three people trapped inside the building killed.
According to DPA, Fadli Tahar, head of the Makassar Civil Defense Department, stated that on the evening of August 29, protesters stormed the local parliament building and set it on fire, resulting in the deaths of an official, a security guard, and a legislative assistant.
According to Reuters, the Indonesian national news agency Antara reported that the victims were trapped inside the burning building. Antara said that two people were injured when they jumped out of the windows to escape the fire.
DPA reported that fires and conflicts also occurred in Jakarta, Surabaya, and Bandung, with protesters attacking police stations and public transportation facilities and setting them on fire.
On Saturday, August 30, according to Reuters, protesters set fire to parliament buildings in three provinces, and the demonstrations continued. Reuters cited local media reports stating that protests involving fires in parliament buildings occurred in West Nusa Tenggara Province, North Klaten City in Central Java Province, and Cirebon in West Java Province.
According to the website Detik, protesters looted equipment in the parliament offices in Cirebon, while in North Klaten City and West Nusa Tenggara Province, police used tear gas to disperse the crowds. Reuters could not immediately verify the reports from the media.
The wave of protests began earlier this week, starting with demonstrations in the capital Jakarta over additional benefits for legislators. On Friday, a police car hit and killed a motorcycle taxi driver, which escalated the protests.
DPA quoted local media as saying that there were also protests at the police headquarters in the resort area of Bali, where police used tear gas against demonstrators.
On Saturday, the head of the Indonesian National Police stated that the president had ordered a firm response against protesters who violated the law.
President Prabowo, who took office in October 2024, in a television address called for calm and dialogue, but also warned against further use of violence.
According to Reuters, Prabowo visited the home of the motorbike taxi driver who was killed by a police car on Friday evening, expressed condolences to his parents, and promised to oversee the related investigation.
Sources: DW, translated from DPA and Reuters
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1841937504223706/
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