Prabowo Labels Arson at Regional Council Building as Treason

September 1, 2025 | 06:25 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Prabowo Subianto has declared the arson attack on the South Sulawesi Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) building, which resulted in the deaths of four civil servants, an act of treason. Prabowo made the statement during his visit to police officers who were being treated at the Indonesian National Police Hospital in Kramat Jati, Jakarta, on September 1, 2025.

"Remember! In South Sulawesi, there are four civil servants, innocent individuals, non-political individuals, who became victims. The DPRD building was burned; this is an act of treason and not an expression of aspirations," said Prabowo.

He has ordered all state officials to investigate those responsible. He suspects indications of treason and has vowed to act decisively. "I have no doubt in defending the people. I will confront any mafia as strong as I am, in the name of the people," he stated.

The arson attack occurred during a demonstration by local communities and students in front of the Makassar DPRD office on the evening of Friday, August 29, 2025. The protesters were demonstrating against an increase in allowances for lawmakers and the recent death of online motorcycle taxi driver Affan Kurniawan, who was struck by a police mobile brigade's (Brimob) tactical vehicle.

The Head of Public Relations and Protocol Division of the Makassar DPRD, Syahril, confirmed that six individuals were affected by the fire at the Makassar DPRD building. Four of them died.

The deceased included Budi, a member of the Public Order Agency (Satuan Polisi Pamong Praja), and Syaiful Akbar, Head of the Welfare Section of Ujung Padang District. Both had attempted to escape the blaze by jumping from the third floor. "They were taken to Grestelina Hospital, but it was too late," Syahril told Tempo on Saturday, August 30, 2025.

Two other victims died after being trapped inside a second-floor room. They were Muhammad Akbar Basri, a protocol division staff member of the Makassar DPRD, and Syahrina, an aide to a Makassar DPRD member. "One woman died due to burns," Syahril said. "The man who died went to look for the DPRD aide (woman). But both were trapped and died."

Didit Hariyadi contributed to the report.

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