Jakarta. Thousands of students and residents staged protests at the House of Representatives (DPR) complex in Jakarta on Thursday and Friday, rallying against lawmakers’ perks amid worsening economic hardships.

The demonstration stretched into Thursday night and turned violent after ride-hailing driver Affan Kurniawan was killed when the Police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob) armored vehicle ran him over in Central Jakarta. His death has ignited nationwide outrage, with protesters demanding police accountability and an end to excessive force.

On Friday afternoon, hundreds of university students forced open the gates of the Metro Jaya Police headquarters in South Jakarta, as they blocked Jalan Jenderal Sudirman, paralyzing traffic. By evening, riot police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.

The unrest soon spread into central Jakarta, where looters stormed shop-houses about 200 meters from the Brimob headquarters, seizing office equipment, electronics, bicycles, and even teakwood furniture.

At the National Police headquarters, top officials --including Police Internal Affairs Division Chief Insp. Gen. Abdul Karim, the National Police Commission, and the Ministry of Law and Human Rights-- held a press conference on the case. Karim said seven Brimob officers had been detained and placed under investigation, with several presented before the media.

President Prabowo Subianto, who took office just months ago, has urged the public to remain calm and warned of “elements who want chaos.” He promised that the government would support the victim’s family and ensure accountability.

Parliament Speaker Puan Maharani also issued a rare apology, acknowledging that lawmakers had “not fully carried out their duties” and pledging to better heed public aspirations.

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