Mass Actions In Surabaya Are Chaotic, Dozens Of Motorcycles Are On Fire

Hundreds of demonstrators held a demonstration in front of the Grahadi State building in Surabaya, Friday (29/8/2025). ANTARA/Naufal Ammar Imaduddin.

SURABAYA - A demonstration that was held in front of the Grahadi State building, Jalan Governor Suryo, East Java, on Friday was marked by chaos and caused dozens of motorbikes parked to catch fire.

The hundreds of demonstrators took solidarity to express their disappointment and as a form of protest over the casualties in a demonstration in Jakarta.

According to ANTARA's observation at the location, the motorbike caught fire after the demonstrators pushed forward the gate of the Graha State Building on the east side, breaking through the gate.

The police, who were on guard in the courtyard of the Grahadi State Building, immediately took precautions by spraying water from water cannon vehicles.

"Let's go forward, everyone move, don't separate," said one of the demonstrators who ran towards the Grahadi State Building in Surabaya.

After the gate of the Grahadi State building was broken down, the demonstrators entered and took out several motorbikes to be burned in the middle of Jalan Governor Suryo.

In addition to throwing Molotov cocktails, the demonstrators also threw stones, water barriers, traffic markers and wooden blocks taken around Jalan Governor Suryo.

As of 16.00 WIB, the masses began to move away from the front of the Grahadi State Building and gathered in front of the Surabaya City Square, due to actions to handle demonstrations by the police.

Even though they had resigned, the masses again filled the streets in front of the Grahadi State building to take action.

As of 17.00 WIB, the masses were still standing around the Grahadi State Building area in Surabaya. Likewise, the police are still on guard to prevent the mass action from gathering again.

The demonstrators' actions were not only around Jalan Governor Suryo, at 17.39 WIB, they also damaged a number of banners attached to the right section of Yos Sudarso Street, towards Surabaya City Hall.

The demonstration was held to express disappointment and as a form of protest over the casualties in a demonstration in Jakarta, on Thursday (28/8).

Affan Kurniawan (21), an online motorcycle taxi driver, died as a result of being run over by a Brimob tactical vehicle in the midst of a riot between demonstrators and police officers on Jalan Pejompongan, Central Jakarta, Thursday (28/8).