What’s Behind the Violent Protests Across Indonesia?

Indonesia is experiencing its worst civil unrest in years after government plans to introduce huge monthly allowances for its lawmakers triggered a wave of popular indignation about the country’s persistent social inequality and unemployment.

The demonstrations started in the capital Jakarta on Aug. 25 and swiftly grew larger and more violent later in the week after a 21-year-old motorcycle taxi driver was struck and killed by an armored police vehicle while making a food delivery. Demonstrators burned government buildings and bus stations, and mobs looted the homes of then-Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and several other parliamentarians. At least 10 people have died and more than a thousand have been injured.