Indonesian student groups say they will rally outside Jakarta’s police headquarters on Friday, after a motorcycle driver was killed when struck by a police vehicle during clashes near parliament.
Muzammil Ihsan, head of Indonesia’s largest student union, said the protest will focus on police violence and will be joined by other groups.
Thursday’s demonstrations, which raised concerns over lawmakers’ pay, education funding, and the government’s school meals programme, turned violent as riot police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds.
Jakarta police chief Asep Edi Suheri confirmed the victim, a rideshare driver not linked to the protests, was killed by an armoured police vehicle. He offered condolences and apologized.
Authorities said seven officers from the vehicle’s crew have been arrested while an investigation is ongoing.
The incident sparked overnight protests by motorcycle drivers, leading to military deployment to prevent further escalation. Human rights groups have urged police to release more than 600 people detained during Thursday’s unrest.
