Recently, large-scale anti-government protests broke out in many parts of Indonesia due to economic hardship and political corruption. During the protests in the capital, Jakarta, a motorcycle chauffeur was killed by a armored police car, triggering a public shock, and the public’s anger escalated.
A man in a biker jacket holds a portrait of Affan Kurniawan in Jakarta (AFP)
President Prabhupada Subianto called on the public to remain calm and demand “believe in the government and my leadership” in a TV speech on Monday, however, the protests did not calm down and demonstrators continued to throw stones at the police station headquarters and even set fire to a building in the center of Jakarta.
This is the biggest political test Prabowo has faced since he took office last October.
Why did the protests start?
The riot stems from long-accumulated grievances. According to previous media exposure, in addition to their salary, 580 members of parliament in Indonesia can also receive a monthly housing allowance of 50 million rupiah (about 3,000 US dollars), which is almost 10 times the minimum wage in Jakarta and as high as 20 times in poor areas. This news caused public outrage and was criticized as a "blood-sucking allowance".
In addition, lawmakers and the police are widely regarded as corrupt by Indonesia's 280 million population. Gejayan Calling, one of the protest groups, said lawmakers were "corrupt elites" and called for their salaries to be cut. At the same time, high inflation and rising tax pressures have made life more difficult for ordinary people, and the failure of the minimum wage to be linked to prices has also become the focus of protests.
Prabhupada vowed to boost economic growth to 8% in five years during the campaign, attracting more investment, but the outside world has generally questioned its commitment to be too radical, and global trade uncertainty has also aggravated the vulnerability of the Indonesian economy.
Protests escalate in Indonesia
How did the protests escalate?
Protesters dressed in black clothes clashed with anti-violence police outside the congressional building, throwing stones and burning fireworks.
The turning point of the situation appeared on Thursday, when 21 year-old Mo’s driver, Avan Kurniavan, was crashed and crushed by a police-dispersed crowd’s armored car while executing a meal delivery order near the Jakarta parliament, and the video spread widely on social platforms, instantly sparking public anger across the country.
On Friday, hundreds marched to the police station headquarters, throwing stones and damaging public facilities, causing traffic to be paralyzed, while police fired tear gas and dispersed water cannons, but protesters responded with fireworks and sticks.
Violent demonstrations quickly spread across the country. In Surabaya, protesters stormed the governor's office and burned vehicles. Clashes broke out in Yogyakarta, Medan, Makassar and Bandung. Riots also broke out in Manowari, in eastern Papua.
Where will the situation go?
Prabhupada has pledged to conduct a “comprehensive and transparent investigation” into the death of Kurniawan, however, the incident has seriously impacted the government’s credibility. On the 29th, the Indonesian stock market fell by 1.5% and the dollar rupee fell by 0.8%.
Analysts believe the protests could intensify if the economy slumps further. Mr. Prabowo, while claiming he would "govern democratically", warned of "decisive measures" if necessary. The opposition fears the military-born president could rely on tough measures to maintain stability.
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