Violent Jakarta protest linked to pro-Prabowo group leaves mirror vendor dead

A Jakarta rally over corruption and economic concerns began peacefully but turned violent after police deployed tear gas and water cannons. In the evening, trucks filled with dozens of men wearing white headbands and wielding bamboo sticks entered the Slipi neighbourhood of West Jakarta, assaulting civilians; video linked the attackers to the United Indonesian People’s Movement (GRIB Jaya), a group with long-standing ties to President Prabowo Subianto.

One victim, 60-year-old mirror vendor Bambang Setiawan, died from the attack. GRIB Jaya admitted its members were on the scene but insisted they were there to preserve order and placed responsibility on the protesters. The episode occurs amid a steep decline in Prabowo’s approval rating, now at 37 % compared with 75 % last December, and growing criticism from former President Joko Widodo, whose son serves as vice president, as well as from rivals such as Governor Dedi Mulyadi. The incident highlights the administration’s reliance on paramilitary allies as its popular support erodes.