JAKARTA — Protests have flared in parts of Indonesia since August 25 in some of the country’s worst violence in decades, presenting the biggest challenge so far to Prabowo Subianto’s 10-month-old presidency.

Protests started outside parliament in the capital, Jakarta, initially by groups angered by reports that lawmakers were receiving huge housing allowances on top of base salaries.

Protesters hurled rocks at riot police who responded with tear gas and water cannon. Over the course of a week that grew into wider demonstrations, in at least 32 of Indonesia’s 38 provinces according to the home minister, many of which turned violent, with some regional parliaments set ablaze.

A flashpoint was the August 28 killing of a motorcycle taxi driver in Jakarta, who was not part of the protest but was hit by a riot police vehicle, fuelling further rage, arson and destruction and demands for police reform, scenes replicated elsewhere.

Some prominent officials have been targeted with social media “doxxing” that reveals the addresses of their homes, leading to looting, most notably Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, after a deep fake video in which she appeared to say teachers were a burden.

The home of lawmaker Ahmad Sahroni was looted after he said calls to dissolve parliament over the allowances were being made by the “stupidest people in the world”.

Prabowo cancelled a trip to China and in a big concession on August 31 announced a scrapping of some perks and privileges for lawmakers and a moratorium on overseas travel, but at the same time vowed a firm response to mob violence.

The tally of deaths stands at eight by September 2. With at least 1,200 detained in Jakarta alone and a heavy police and military presence in the streets, some groups opted to keep to the sidelines, but smaller demonstrations were undeterred.