FROM STREET TO STREET: SOLIDARITY BETWEEN OJOL DRIVERS AND RESIDENTS LEADS TO CHAOS

Source: LPM Campus

LPM CAMPUS – A demonstration broke out in front of the Mobile Brigade Command Headquarters in Manahan, Solo, on Friday (8/29/2025). This action was triggered by an incident the previous night during a demonstration in Jakarta on Thursday (8/28/2025), in which an online motorcycle taxi driver died in an incident involving a Brimob tactical vehicle (rantis). The incident clearly sparked anger and solidarity, prompting a crowd consisting of the Online Motorcycle Taxi Driver Alliance and members of the public to take to the streets to voice their protests.

On Friday afternoon in Solo, hundreds of online motorcycle taxi drivers joined the community in a demonstration in front of the Brimob Manahan Headquarters. During the protest, the crowd demanded a thorough investigation into Affan’s death and held the security personnel involved in the incident accountable. However, the situation quickly escalated when the crowd began throwing rocks, bottles, and various other objects at the Mobile Brigade Headquarters. The police responded by firing tear gas four times to disperse the increasingly aggressive crowd. Damage was caused to a number of public facilities around the Mobile Brigade Headquarters, including the exterior of the building and the area in front of the Manahan Stadium, which was affected by the riots.

Source: LPM Campus

A number of public facilities were damaged, including the exterior of the Brimob building and the front of the Manahan Stadium. The situation escalated when the authorities fired tear gas four times to disperse the crowd at the main demonstration site. The effects of tear gas were also felt by the surrounding community, including Shelter Kuliner Manahan, which suffered losses that disrupted its activities and forced several traders to stop buying and selling. It is known that several individuals used stones and tools found around the Manahan Solo stadium to throw at security officers on duty at the Brimob headquarters in Solo.

Source: LPM Campus

Not only did it impact the area around the Manahan Solo Stadium, but several restaurants such as Richeese and KFC Manahan also closed their outlets to minimize losses due to the chaos that occurred. In addition to in front of the Mobile Brigade headquarters, after the action in the Manahan area subsided, the crowd moved to the center of Solo, especially around the Gladag Roundabout and Slamet Riyadi Street. At this location, the crowd again committed acts of anarchy such as burning road barriers, damaging roadside plants, breaking flower pots, and burning water barriers and billboards. The police again attempted to disperse the crowd by firing tear gas and using water cannons to spray water to extinguish the fires burning in the streets. However, the crowd remained until late at night.

Source: LPM Campus

At several points, the crowd was seen crowding the roads around the Manahan Mobile Brigade Command Headquarters. Rubbish was scattered as a result of being thrown by the crowd, and several points were also set on fire, causing thick smoke. Police officers armed with shields lined up tightly to block the crowd, while a water cannon sprayed water to extinguish the fires on the road.

Source: LPM Campus

In several areas of the demonstration, including the surrounding streets, trash and debris from stone throwing and burning were a common sight. Police officers wearing full gear, such as shields and weapons, stood guard throughout the demonstration to anticipate further escalation of the riots. In addition, it was reported that several medical teams who were present to help victims of violence also became targets of violence, although the exact number of victims could not be confirmed.

These conditions forced several shops in the vicinity to close early due to concerns about the impact of the chaos. Not only that, several medical teams were reportedly also victims of violence, although the exact number of victims could not yet be confirmed.

|

Writer: Hanifia Zalfa Luthfita (English Education’24)

Editor: Naufal Ahmad Alfian (Communication Science’22)

|

Journalist: 

• Hanifia Zulfa Luthfia
• Nurhabibah Khoirotunnisa
• Naufal Ahmad Alfian