Clashes Erupt at Indonesian Universities Amid Nationwide Protests 

Indonesian police clashed with protesters near two universities Tuesday, the latest outbreak of violence amid ongoing nationwide protests over government spending, inequality, and the death of a motorcycle taxi driver, Al Jazeera reported. 

Police used tear gas around campuses of the Islamic University of Bandung (UNISBA) and nearby Pasundan University, about 86 miles west of the capital, Jakarta. Officials said they did not enter the campuses and only sought to disperse non-student demonstrators sheltering inside. 

However, UNISBA students countered that security forces “brutally attacked” the campus, while Pasundan students alleged that police used rubber bullets against demonstrators. 

The university clashes come as Indonesia is beset by another bout of student-led protests that erupted last week, protests that observers say are testing the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto, who has been in office for less than a year. 

The unrest was initially sparked over a series of perks and benefits given to Indonesian lawmakers, including a now-scrapped housing allowance of more than $3,000 – it is nearly 10 times higher than the minimum wage in Jakarta. 

But the demonstrations have since broadened into demands for higher wages, anti-corruption measures, and opposition to Subianto’s policies expanding the role of the military in civic society. 

Tensions have escalated since late last week following the death of Affan Kurniawan, a 21-year-old motorcycle taxi driver who was run over by a police vehicle during a Jakarta protest. 

In recent days, thousands have rallied outside the Indonesian parliament in Jakarta, with demonstrations and clashes reported in other cities and provinces.  

Looters and arsonists have also targeted state buildings and political figures’ homes, including that of Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati. 

At least eight people have been killed during the nationwide protests, according to government officials. Civil rights groups warned that at least 20 people have gone missing since the unrest began, the Guardian added. 

University students have long been regarded as defenders of Indonesia’s democracy, and played a leading role in the rallies that helped oust autocratic President Suharto in 1998. 

Subianto – a former military leader during Suharto’s regime – has vowed to launch an investigation into Kurniawan’s death and met with unions to discuss changes in the country’s labor laws, including raising the minimum wage. 

While affirming his government’s respect for free expression, the president warned that if the protests “turn anarchic … this becomes a serious violation of law.”