Jakarta, Sept. 4 -- Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf confirmed that financial compensation has started to be disbursed to victims of the recent protests that erupted in various cities in Indonesia last week.

At the Presidential Palace on Thursday, Yusuf said that the compensation will be given directly to the next of kin of victims who have died, and will amount to Rp15 million (US$913). Meanwhile, every injured victim gets Rp5 million (US$304.5).

"We started the distribution yesterday, and today we will disburse it to victims in Makassar and Yogyakarta and in some other regions," the minister stated.

The compensation is obtained from the social assistance fund earmarked from the state budget via the Social Affairs Ministry, he ...