Chaos Unfolds in Indonesia: 20 People Unaccounted For

In a shocking turn of events, at least 20 individuals have vanished amid the chaos of violent protests across Indonesia, triggered by widespread outrage over excessive perks granted to lawmakers. This unrest has not only claimed six lives but has also ignited deep-seated rage against the police forces.

The protests gained momentum following the harrowing footage of a paramilitary police unit allegedly killing a young delivery driver, which fueled public anger across the nation.

Missing Persons and Government Response

According to the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS), as of September 1, there were 23 reports of missing persons. After thorough checks, the count has now stabilized at 20 individuals, reportedly last seen in urban areas like Bandung and Depok on Java island, as well as various regions of Greater Jakarta.

The National Police have notably been silent in response to these disturbing developments.

Mass Arrests Amid Unrest

Since the protests escalated on August 25, police have arrested an astounding 1,240 participants in Jakarta alone. These are deemed the most significant demonstrations since President Prabowo Subianto took office in 2024, forcing him to reconsider the contentious issue of lawmaker perks.

International Calls for Justice

On September 1, the United Nations urged for an independent investigation into allegations of excessive force used by security personnel during these protests. Ravina Shamdasani, a spokesperson for the UN human rights office, stated that they were closely monitoring the escalating violence linked to public outrage over lawmakers’ allowances and austerity measures.

Clashes and Further Protests Expected

As the military took to the streets of Jakarta to restore order, demonstrations continued with protesters confronting police near parliament. Incidents of violence were reported, including Molotov cocktails being thrown in Bandung, to which police responded with tear gas against so-called 'anarchists'.

Dramatic confrontations unfolded outside Bandung Islamic University, with police accusing protesters of attempting to incite further chaos. Although claims surfaced about police targeting the campus, local authorities insisted the law enforcement maintained a safe distance.

Nationwide Unrest: A Call to Action

The protests spread beyond Jakarta, with thousands rallying in cities like Palembang and hundreds gathering in Banjarmasin, Yogyakarta, and Makassar, among others. In anticipation of growing unrest, TikTok temporarily suspended its live streaming feature in Indonesia, a country with over 100 million users, to prevent the spread of protest-related content.

As the situation remains volatile, attention shifts to the government’s next move and the potential for more demonstrations in the coming days, particularly from women's groups who had previously planned but later canceled protests.