Anger Over Fatal Clash Stokes Protests That Rock Indonesia

Indonesia has been rocked by an eruption of public anger that authorities are struggling to contain. Protests have intensified after the death of a motorcycle taxi driver who was struck and killed by an armored police vehicle during a demonstration on Thursday evening. The rupiah and stocks fell.

The outpouring of discontent, initially over wages and taxes, has become a major test for President Prabowo Subianto, the former general who took office last year. Prabowo called for calm, expressed his sympathy and ordered an investigation of the incident. In the meantime, members of the army and navy were seen on social media securing parts of Jakarta as protesters burned cars and hurled rocks, while riot police used tear gas.