Council Building in Indonesia as Protests Over Driver’s Death Escalate

A deadly fire ripped through a regional council building in Makassar, South Sulawesi, killing three people and injuring several others. The blaze erupted late Friday as protesters, fueled by outrage over the fatal police vehicle collision of a motorcycle taxi driver, stormed the premises, setting the building ablaze.

Two council staff members died at the scene, and a civil servant succumbed to injuries later in the hospital. Several others sustained injuries, either from flames or from desperate attempts to escape by jumping from windows. The building has since been extinguished, but the charred structure stands as a grim symbol of the unrest sweeping across the nation.

The tragedy ignited further unrest, with demonstrations rapidly spreading to other cities. In West Nusa Tenggara, Pekalongan (Central Java), and Cirebon (West Java), protesters torched regional parliament buildings, intensifying already widespread anger over lawmakers’ allowances, cost of living, and government accountability.

President Prabowo Subianto, who assumed office last year, condemned the violence and pledged a “thorough and transparent investigation” into the driver's death. The national police chief echoed the call for decisive legal action against those engaging in criminal behavior. Despite these assurances, tensions remain high as protests continue in multiple urban centers.

Indonesia grapples with mounting discontent, and anger over a delivery driver’s death has become a catalyst for deeper frustrations over economic disparity, perceived political indulgence, and police conduct. As fires continue to burn and cities remain on edge, the path to resolution appears uncertain.

Sources: Associated Press, Reuters, The Guardian