Responding to the Indonesian government’s announcement that at least eight people have been killed since nationwide protests against low wages, tax hikes and lawmakers’ pay started on 25 August, Amnesty International’s Regional Research Director, Montse Ferrer, said:
“The increasing number of deaths from the crackdown on protests in Jakarta and other regions in Indonesia is alarming. Nobody should die while exercising their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
“Authorities in Indonesia must promptly ensure an independent and impartial investigation into these deaths and violent incidents, including the killing of a motorcycle taxi driver after an armoured police vehicle was recklessly driven in a crowded area. Authorities must ensure those responsible for these deaths are identified and held to account in fair trials.
“Despite the largely peaceful nature of the protests, the police in several cities in Indonesia, including Jakarta, repeatedly resorted to unnecessary and excessive force, including by inappropriately and excessively using tear gas to quash the demonstrations.
“It is deplorable that the National Police chief instructed police officers to use rubber bullets against protesters who had entered the compound of the Jakarta Police’s Mobile Brigade headquarters. These weapons should only be deployed in exceptional circumstances, such as situations of violent disorder posing an imminent threat of considerable harm to others. Moreover, they should only be used by appropriately trained officers and must not be fired randomly at the crowd but must be aimed exclusively at persons who are engaged in violence against persons, and only when other means have failed to stop the violence.
Nobody should die while exercising their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
Montse Ferrer, Amnesty International’s Regional Research Director
“Further, the Indonesian government must not use isolated incidents of violence by some protesters as an excuse to further repress peaceful demonstrations. Instead of a brutal clampdown, authorities should respect, facilitate and protect the rights of people to assemble peacefully and freely express their opinions.”
Background
Indonesia’s biggest protests in years started on 25 August 2025, sparking a violent crackdown across the country.
In Jakarta, a motorcycle taxi driver was killed after being run over by an armoured police vehicle recklessly driven near crowds in Jakarta on Thursday 28 August. Seven police officers are being investigated. A day later three public employees and one member of the Civil Service Police Unit in the city of Makassar, South Sulawesi province, were killed after unknown people set fire to a local parliament building following clashes with police. On Friday 29 August, a motorcycle taxi driver was killed by crowds in Makassar who accused him of being a police intelligence agent.
In the city of Solo, Central Java province, a pedicab driver died allegedly due to exposure to tear gas fired by police when confronting protesters on Friday 29 August.
In the city of Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta province, a student died after allegedly being beaten by police who were also firing tear gas at protesters near police headquarters on Sunday 30 August.
