‘Justice for Affan’: Outrage in Jakarta after delivery rider killed by police vehicle in protest clash

JAKARTA – Grief and fury swept through Indonesia’s capital of Jakarta as the family of 21-year-old Affan Kurniawan mourned the death of the

young ride-hailing motorbike driver

who

was killed

when a police tactical vehicle ploughed into him as a protest in Central Jakarta turned chaotic.

Surrounded by relatives and neighbours, his grief-stricken mother Erlina, who goes by one name, spoke through her tears to The Straits Times at her family home.

“I want the person who killed my son to get the harshest sanction by the law…. he had just ended a food delivery and was about to pick up his next passenger,” the 41-year-old housemaid said.

“He’s the backbone of our family, and worked very hard. He had been saving up money from his job to buy land and build a house for us back in our village in Lampung (in South Sumatra),” she added.

The incident occurred during Jakarta’s second major protest in a week, fuelled by public anger over generous allowances being offered to legislators.

According to Madam Erlina, on the night of Aug 28, Mr Affan had just dropped off a delivery order when he became trapped in the chaos of a demonstration in Pejompongan, Central Jakarta.

A Brimob paramilitary tactical vehicle sped through the crowd, striking him before accelerating away. Seven officers have been detained and investigations are ongoing to determine who was driving the vehicle.

At Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital late Aug 28, Mr Affan’s relatives wept openly as National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo silently embraced one family member, who broke down on his shoulder.

General Listyo visited the family to apologise publicly and promised that police would take responsibility. “I extend my deepest condolences to the late Mr Affan and also, of course, to his entire family,” he said. “We offer our sympathy and apology from our institution for this unfortunate incident.”

Mr Affan was the second of three children. His father works odd jobs and the family relied heavily on Mr Affan’s earnings to keep the household afloat. Neighbours described him as diligent and conscientious, someone who never caused trouble.

Videos circulating on social media showed the Brimob vehicle barreling into the crowd. Protesters scattered, but Mr Affan, riding his motorbike, did not escape in time. Footage captured the vehicle striking him, briefly slowing, then accelerating again over his body before fleeing the scene.

Voices could be heard screaming that he had been run over. Outraged demonstrators chased the vehicle, throwing objects and demanding accountability.

Throughout the week, a series of protests erupted across Indonesia’s cities, reflecting mounting frustration with the political elite.

Thousands of demonstrators had clashed with police outside the House of Representatives (DPR) on Aug 25, hurling rocks, firecrackers, and sharpened bamboo sticks. Police responded with water cannons and tear gas.

At the heart of the outrage is a new allowances package for lawmakers, announced on Aug 19. Legislators now receive 50 million rupiah a month for housing, 12 million rupiah for food, and 7 million rupiah for transport, on top of a base salary of 6.5 million rupiah – roughly 14 times Jakarta’s minimum wage.

On Aug 28, labour groups staged protests in Jakarta and other cities, demanding an end to outsourcing and low wages. Weeks earlier, demonstrations flared in Java and South Sumatra after local governments imposed tax increases of up to 250 per cent.

Taken together, these crises have laid bare the widening gap between political leaders and the grassroots, and could escalate into a broader legitimacy challenge for the state.

For many Indonesians, the hefty allowances package was the last straw. Rising costs of rice and school fees, mass layoffs in industries such as textiles, and sharp property tax hikes in several provinces had already strained household budgets.

The allowances controversy has become a rallying point for broader anger over living costs and political privilege.

“Parliament must be dissolved. Do not retreat. Our fight is not over,” shouted one protester at the Aug 28 rally.

Another protest is planned for Aug 29 afternoon in Jakarta.

For Jakarta’s ride-hailing drivers, grief has turned into a rallying cry. After Mr Affan was struck, motorcycle drivers prowled the streets until the early morning in long, pulsating lines of motorcycles.

Engines roared and horns blared as drivers shouted: “Justice for Affan!” and “A Life for a Life”. Convoys weaved through narrow streets, banging on police barricades in frustration.

Videos of Mr Affan’s death have gone viral, with hashtags demanding accountability spreading across social media. Another protest is planned for Friday.

Mr Ryanto Kusnadi, 41, a fellow motorcycle taxi driver who knew Mr Affan personally, said he always shared the breakfasts his mother made – fried tofu, banana fritters, and lontong – with his friends.

“Affan was very hardworking, humorous, and generous,” he told ST.

Another driver, Mr Irvan Sodirin, 30, said: “I plan to join the demonstration later today. We want to show our solidarity with Affan and express our disappointment. Police should protect people, not harm them.”

Political analysts have warned that demonstrations could intensify if the government continues to appear distant from the people. Civil rights groups have condemned police heavy-handedness.

Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia Usman Hamid, said in a statement on Aug 28: “We understand the complexities on the ground where officers must use force to handle situations involving violence. But it must not be excessive.”

He added: “Actions taken must be truly necessary, proportional, and accountable. What is seen, however, are disproportionate actions such as tear gas, beatings, and arbitrary arrests. Every citizen has the right to express opinions without intervention, including through demonstrations.”