Indonesia fires police officer over killing that fuelled protests

In an effort to halt the ongoing anti-government protests, Indonesian authorities fired a police officer who was involved in the death of a delivery driver who was hit by an armored police vehicle.

Officer Cosmas K Gae acted “unprofessionally” during the protest, according to Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko, a spokesman for the national police, calling his behavior “a reprehensible act.”

In remarks made to reporters by broadcaster Kompas TV, Trunoyudo said that this required “dishonorable dismissal as a member of the national police.”

Cosmas, one of the seven detained officers in the incident, was not in the front seat. According to the Reuters news agency, he was captured crying during the hearing and claimed he had no intention of killing anyone.

The fate of the remaining six officers has not yet been decided, despite the sanctioned officer’s claim that he was thinking about appealing.

A contentious $3, 000 housing allowance was removed from the legislature on Monday, according to President Prabowo Subianto.

Anger about growing inequality

Over the country, protests involving students, workers, and human rights organizations have erupted since last week over racial inequality, benefits for lawmakers, and police brutality.

The demonstrations, which have sparked some looting and rioting, have resulted in the deaths of at least ten people and have been met with tear gas and rubber bullets from security forces.

At least 20 people were still missing as of Monday, according to the Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS).

According to President Subianto, the police and the army would vigorously resist violence at the demonstrations.

At least 10 student unions met with lawmakers in the interim, demanding the release of demonstrators and inquiries into Prabowo’s claim that some of the protests had a bent toward “treason and terrorism” were some of the demands.

The student body at the University of Indonesia demanded an impartial investigation into police violence and compared the economic hardship experienced by high legislators to those of other countries.

According to student body head Agus Setiawan, “It’s as if they take advantage of us in every election… But after they won, we were forgotten.”