[Photo by Idis News/Tiktok/Affan Kurniawan]
He was helping out a customer until the police ran him over and killed him.
Who Was Affan Kurniawan?
Affan Kurniawan was working as a 21-year-old Gojek driver when he was fatally struck by a tactical police vehicle on August 28, 2025. Gojek is an Indonesian motorcycle app similar to Uber and Lyft — you hire a driver to get to your destination. In Indonesia it’s very common to travel by motorcycle, especially with the crowded streets and heavy congestion — Gojek conveniently connects riders to motorcycle taxis.
Protests have been ongoing throughout Indonesia, and this one took place in Central Jakarta. According to eyewitnesses, Affan wasn’t part of this protest — he was working. The tactical police vehicle, known as a “Barracuda,” drove down the road to disperse the protestors.
As seen on various social media videos, the Barracuda goes down the street and protestors scatter away in fear. During the police-induced chaos, the Barracuda hits Affan and runs him over.
Affan was still alive when he was rushed to the hospital, but after five minutes in the emergency unit his pulse stopped. He was pronounced dead at 7:50 PM. Videos of the Barracuda running over Affan Kurniawan can be found on social media.
The 2025 Indonesian Protests
This didn’t begin with Affan’s tragic killing on the night of August 28, 2025 — the people of Indonesia have been protesting throughout the year. Indonesians are angry at a corrupt government lavishly spending money on themselves instead of helping the people. One member of Parliament even has a garage full of BMW motorcycles.
The Indonesian government has said people don’t qualify for benefits if they get paid the minimum wage — but the minimum wage makes it impossible to afford the true cost of living. Even though the people of Indonesia starve, they manage to keep their sense of humor by joking about producing food through photosynthesis.
Jakarta Protests Become Riots
The protestors were peaceful before the police killed Affan Kurniawan, although police still struck them with rubber bullets and tear gas. Affan’s tragic death led to violence, rioting, and looting by the protestors — it was their last straw. They burned down government buildings, including Parliament buildings and a police headquarters. The police have become the enemy of the Indonesian people, seen as defenders of a rotten system.
Some Restitution, but Is There Resolution?
Affan’s family met with President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Palace. Under President Subianto’s instructions they were given a house in West Java. The Minister of Housing and Settlement, Maruarar Sirait, oversaw the housing of the late Affan’s family. Indonesia has a government subsidized housing program, but due to its definition of “minimum wage,” it’s difficult to qualify — one of the reasons for the protests.
Seven officers have been arrested in connection to Affan’s killing:
- Police Commissioner C
- First Inspector M
- First Brigadier R
- First Brigadier D
- First Brigadier M
- Baraka Y
- Baraka J