University students protest outside the parliament in Jakarta on Sept 1. Image: AFP via The Straits Times.
(The Post News) – Hundreds of university students across Indonesia joined the mass demonstrations an eighth consecutive day on Monday. The anti-government unrest could not be calmed despite President Prabowo Subianto pledge to cut parliamentarians’ benefits after lawmakers were accused of exploiting public funds.
According to Chief Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto, clashes between protesters and police over the weekend have already claimed at least eight lives and left around 700 people injured since the protests began last week. Following a series of smaller demonstrations over rising unemployment, a violent mass protest erupted on Friday after 21-year-old ride-hailing driver Affan Kurniawan was killed when a police paramilitary tactical vehicle accidentally rammed into him at a rally in Central Jakarta.
The incident sparked outrage and a weekend of further unrest. Protesters reportedly broke into and looted the homes of political party members, including the finance minister, while state buildings were ransacked and set on fire.
Kurniawan’s death has mobilized students and young workers, who accuse the government of fostering a “political oligarchy” and maintaining an unequal economic system. On 31 August, during a press conference at the Presidential Palace, President Subianto promised to slash lawmakers’ benefits and halt their foreign travels. He also ordered police and military units to act decisively against rioters and looters, warning that the protests contained elements resembling terrorism and treason.
The chairman of the Indonesian Student League for Democracy, Tegar Afriansyah, criticized the government’s decision to deploy large numbers of police and military as “repressive and intimidating” and confirmed that rallies would continue in Jakarta, Yogyakarta, and Makassar. Due to the heavy security presence, some Jakarta protests were postponed, with over 1,200 demonstrators already detained.
Indonesian President Handles First Crisis
President Prabowo Subianto cancelled his planned visit to China this upcoming Saturday for its grand 80th Victory Parade, citing the need to focus on the unrest and creating peace at home. While he has faced other crises, this marks his first major political crisis since becoming president nearly a year ago. The unrest has caused significant economic damage, with infrastructure losses in Jakarta alone estimated at S$3.4 million (S$4.4 million). The Indonesian stock market also fell more than 3% in opening trades on 1 September, reflecting investor concern over the ongoing protests.
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