Solo – Scores of people were rushed to hospital following clashes during a demonstration by online motorcycle taxi (ojol) drivers at the Central Java Regional Police Battalion C Mobile Brigade (Brimob) Headquarters in Solo on Friday August 29.
The demonstration was held as an act of solidarity over the death of motorcycle taxi driver Affan Kurniawan, who was run over by a Brimob armoured vehicle in Jakarta on Thursday night August 28.
According to CNN Indonesia's observations, ambulances from various volunteer groups arrived and departed from the location of the demonstrators. One of the ambulance drivers, Heski Alistia Budi, said they had been on standby at the location since 4 pm.
"There are perhaps 10-15 ambulances (carrying patients)", Budi said when sought for confirmation on Friday evening.
At least 10 people were reportedly rushed to the hospital. Most required treatment for shortness of breath and loss of consciousness. One person suffered a laceration to their right leg.
Protests have taken place across Indonesia. Besides Jakarta and Solo, large demonstrations also took place in Bandung (West Java), Surabaya (East Java), Makassar (South Sulawesi), Medan (North Sumatra) and other cities.
Various layers of society have taken to the streets to voice their disappointment with the government and the police. In several cities, including Jakarta and Surabaya, unrest related to the demonstrations have continued into the evening. (syd/jun)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Demo Ojol di Solo, Belasan Orang Dilarikan ke Rumah Sakit".]
