The Indonesian government has called on the National Police (Polri) to investigate the death of an online motorcycle taxi (ojek) driver who was allegedly run over by a police tactical vehicle during a protest in Jakarta on Thursday evening.
"We specifically instructed the police to compose themselves and carry out security duties with full caution. We also request them to be attentive to this incident," State Secretary Minister and presidential spokesperson Prasetyo Hadi said the same day.
Hadi added that the Presidential Palace is coordinating with all parties, including Polri, to restore order in the capital.
"No matter how minor it is, we regret it. Nobody wants such an incident to happen," he said, while also apologizing for the fatal accident.
The victim, 21-year-old Affan Kurniawan, was struck and killed by a Mobile Corps (Brimob) tactical vehicle on Pejompongan Road near the Parliament Complex.
Videos widely circulated on social media show the vehicle fleeing the scene after hitting Kurniawan, with residents and witnesses chasing it until it was stopped on Prof. Dr. Satrio Road in South Jakarta.
Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo later visited Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM) to personally apologize to Kurniawan's family.
Meanwhile, the police's Profession and Security Division Chief Inspector General Abdul Karim confirmed that action was taken against seven officers who were inside the tactical vehicle.
The protest outside the Parliament Complex turned violent after demonstrators refused to disperse, sparking clashes that spread to nearby areas in the evening.
Kurniawan's death fueled further unrest, with hundreds of people — many of them fellow ojek drivers — rallying outside the Brimob Headquarters near Senen Station.
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Translator: Genta Tenri M, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Anton Santoso
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