Jakarta. The violent protests and looting that rocked Jakarta in recent days involved three distinct clusters of actors, ranging from students and labor groups to opportunistic youths and anarchists, according to an intelligence analyst from the University of Indonesia.

“There are three clusters. The first consists of idealist groups such as laborers, students, and ride-hailing drivers who are demanding accountability over the death of their colleague,” Stanislaus Riyanta told Beritasatu.com on Sunday. “This cluster is driven by clear and idealistic issues.”

The second cluster, he said, is made up of those who joined without specific goals. “They participate because of FOMO (fear of missing out) or because they are drawn in by live streams on TikTok. Many teenagers fall into this group,” Stanislaus explained.

The third group, which he described as the most dangerous, comprises anarchists and provocateurs. “They don’t voice issues, but rather commit acts such as throwing Molotov cocktails, setting fires, and looting,” he said, adding that this cluster tends to emerge in the late afternoon and evening.

Videos circulating on social media showed some rioters entering the homes of politicians and vandalizing property. Among the houses looted on Saturday evening were those belonging to Finance Minister Sri Mulyani, lawmakers Ahmad Sahroni, Eko Patrio, and Uya Kuya, as well as entertainer-turned-legislator Nafa Urbach.

Stanislaus stressed that while the unrest featured elements of coordination, there was no evidence of a single mastermind or foreign actor behind it. “This is not a conspiracy. On the ground, I see crowds driven by different motivations,” he said.

He warned that the third cluster’s actions could trigger a domino effect. “If this group is left unchecked, they can influence others to loot. We’ve already seen the case of Finance Minister Sri Mulyani’s home. Imagine if this spreads to ordinary households,” he said.

Stanislaus concluded that the three clusters differ in motivation: the first driven by ideals, the second by momentum, and the third by destruction and theft. “Our nation tends to link such incidents to conspiracies, but I focus more on the facts on the ground,” he added.

Add as a preferred source on Google +