Tensions escalated in Jakarta on Friday as students planned a protest at the city’s police headquarters following the death of a motorcycle ride-share driver struck by a police vehicle.
The driver, Affan Kurniawan, was hit during clashes near the parliament on Thursday, where police were attempting to disperse demonstrators voicing concerns over lawmakers’ pay and education funding.
The protest call prompted schools across the capital to dismiss students early, while banks and businesses advised employees to work from home. Local media footage showed military forces deployed in several areas.
Muzammil Ihsan, head of Indonesia’s largest student union, told Reuters that the demonstration would target police violence and expected participation from multiple student groups.
In a pre-recorded video message, President Prabowo Subianto urged calm, expressed condolences for Kurniawan, and ordered a full investigation into the incident.
