JAKARTA: Indonesian police fired tear gas yesterday at hundreds of protesters rallying in the capital over the death of a motorcycle taxi driver, hours after the country’s president promised to investigate the incident.
Clashes between protesters and police broke out on Thursday over calls for higher wages and perceived lavish perks for lawmakers, as public discontent grows over the government’s handling of the economy.
The police response to the protests drew strong criticism after videos circulated on social media showing a black tactical vehicle running over a man.
President Prabowo Subianto promised yesterday to investigate the death of gig motorcycle driver Affan Kurniawan, expressing “deepest condolences and sympathy” on behalf of the government.
“I have ordered the last night’s incident to be thoroughly and transparently investigated, and that the officers involved be held accountable,” he said in a statement.
The government will take “the strongest possible actions” if officers are found to have acted against proper conduct and prevailing regulations, he added.
Hundreds of protesters massed at the paramilitary police unit’s Jakarta headquarters yesterday afternoon to rally against the driver’s death when police fired rounds of tear gas to disperse the crowd, an AFP journalist at the scene said.
The day before, hundreds rallied near the Indonesian parliament over issues including hefty pay for lawmakers, whose monthly housing allowance of 50 million rupiah (US$3,034) is nearly 10 times the minimum wage in Jakarta.
Labour groups had also protested earlier, demanding better pay and for the government to take action against recent mass layoffs of workers. – AFP
