Indonesia protests leave 20 missing amid clashes and government crackdown

Tuesday 02 September 2025 - 10:25

By: Sahili Aya

Indonesia protests leave 20 missing amid clashes and government crackdown

At least 20 people remain missing following a week of violent protests across Indonesian cities, according to the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS). The unrest, which began on 25 August, erupted over public anger at lawmakers’ generous perks, including a controversial housing allowance.

Tensions escalated after 21-year-old motorcycle taxi driver Affan Kurniawan was fatally struck by a police vehicle during a demonstration. Since the protests began, six people have died, and authorities are still searching for the missing individuals reported in Jakarta, Bandung, Depok, and other urban areas.

On Monday, demonstrators gathered outside parliament in Jakarta under heightened security, including police checkpoints, military patrols, and snipers. Schools switched to online learning, and civil servants were asked to work remotely. Clashes were also reported in Bandung and Gorontalo, where police used tear gas and water cannons, and in several other cities, including Palembang, Banjarmasin, Yogyakarta, and Makassar.

President Prabowo Subianto condemned the violence and ordered firm action against looting and arson targeting state and private property. Investigations are underway into Kurniawan’s death, with seven officers detained and two facing possible dismissal for criminal conduct. In a rare concession, the government agreed to reduce lawmakers’ housing allowances, which had provoked widespread public outrage.

The United Nations urged an investigation into alleged excessive use of force by security personnel, stressing that all law enforcement, including the military, must adhere to international principles on the use of force.