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Who was behind Jakarta riots?
Who exactly was behind the riots and what was their goal?
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Police fired tear gas at protesters during a riot near the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia, on May 22, 2019. (JP/Seto Wardhana)
T
he riots that gripped parts of Central and West Jakarta from late May 21 to the early hours of May 23 have left behind many questions, including who masterminded the apparently “pre-planned” violence that resulted in at least eight deaths and hundreds of injuries.
The police said that initially peaceful protests by supporters of Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto following the announcement of the official election results by the General Elections Commission (KPU) had been “infiltrated” by those who had more nefarious motives.
Who exactly was behind the riots and what was their goal?
‘People power’ rally plans
The idea of staging a rally to protest the presidential election results had been mooted since before election day.
In early April, National Mandate Party (PAN) patron and Prabowo campaign advisor Amien Rais said he would lead massive protests if he found systematic election fraud.
“If we find any evidence of election fraud after voting day, I will gather a massive number of people at Monas [National Monument], [I will] use people power,” Amien said at the time.
