Indonesian students have announced they will protest at Jakarta’s police headquarters on Friday, following the death of a motorcycle rider who was hit by a police vehicle during violent clashes a day earlier. The incident occurred after a demonstration outside the parliament.
Muzammil Ihsan, head of Indonesia’s largest student union, informed Reuters that students plan to protest police violence on Friday afternoon and expects other student groups to join.
On Thursday, demonstrators had gathered to protest a range of issues, including lawmakers’ salaries, education funding, and the government’s school meals program. As the protest continued into the night, local media reported that riot police used tear gas and water cannons to try to disperse the crowd.
The capital’s police chief, Asep Edi Suheri, confirmed that an armored police vehicle hit and killed a motorcycle rideshare driver during the clashes. A motorcycle drivers’ association stated that the deceased man was not involved in the protests.
“As police chief and on behalf of the entire unit, I would like to express my deepest apologies and condolences,” Suheri said during a press conference late on Thursday.
According to Abdul Karim, head of the professional and security division of the Indonesian police, the seven crew members of the armored vehicle have been arrested, and an investigation is currently underway. Following the death, a group of motorcycle drivers protested in front of the riot police headquarters on Thursday night, local media reported. Kompas TV said on Friday that military officers were dispatched to the building to calm the dozens of protesting drivers.
In a post on Instagram, Jakarta Legal Aid urged the government and police to release the 600 people who were arrested during the demonstrations.
