JAKARTA, Aug 30 — Indonesian protesters set ablaze regional Parliament buildings in three provinces during continuing demonstrations today, a day after three people were killed in violence that has presented a significant test for President Prabowo Subianto.
Parliamentary buildings in West Nusa Tenggara, Pekalongan city in Central Java, and Cirebon city in West Java were set on fire by protesters, local media reported.
Detik.com said the protesters looted Parliament's office equipment in Cirebon while police shot tear gas to disperse them in Pekalongan and West Nusa Tenggara.
Reuters could not confirm the media reports, and the authorities were not immediately available for comment.
Protests began in Indonesia's capital Jakarta earlier this week over lawmakers' pay, escalating yesterday after a police vehicle hit and killed the driver of a ride-hailing motorbike.
National police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo stated today that the President has instructed authorities to take firm action against protesters who have violated the law.
The arson attacks on Parliamentary buildings followed yesterday's deadly protest in Makassar, capital of South Sulawesi province, that left at least three people dead and five injured.
Local media metrotvnews.com reported one further death from Makassar's Parliamentary building fire, though this could not be independently confirmed.
In a statement earlier today, the disaster management agency did not provide details on the fatalities in yesterday's blaze, but state news agency Antara said the victims had been trapped in the burning building.
It reported that two people were injured after jumping out of the building to escape the fire.
Local media also reported protests in the holiday island of Bali at the police headquarters, and that police had shot tear gas at the demonstrators.
Jakarta's mass rapid transit said trains were not stopping at one station today near yesterday's protest site, while services of Jakarta-owned Transjakarta bus were disrupted.
