On Sunday, August 31 local time, Indonesian President Prabowo Subiyando made a strong statement in Jakarta in response to the recent protests that have swept the country.
He made it clear that some of the rallies that have spread across the country in recent days have touched the realm of treason and terrorism.
Subiyendo emphasized in his speech: "The right to peaceful assembly must be respected and protected, but we cannot deny that some behaviors have exceeded the boundaries of the law and threatened national security."
He called for peace and warned that the state would take decisive action to protect the safety of its citizens if anyone damages public facilities or robs private property.
According to the French news agency, the direct source of the protests was exposure to high housing subsidies by lawmakers, which amounted to ten times the minimum wage in Jakarta.
Prabhupada also responded in a speech, saying congressional leaders had pledged to withdraw some of the subsidy policies and suspend lawmakers’ overseas visits.
Dedi Dinato, senior vice president of public policy consulting Global Counsel, said: “On the elite level, the president’s speech may have some relieving effect, but for the general public, economic pressure and discontent with privileges are still difficult to resolve. If Indonesia can’t touch the core of the problem, speech alone can’t calm the wave.”
Officials' residences were ransacked
The home of Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani in South Tangerang has been looted in two waves amid mass protests. The finance minister served as the president of the World Bank, served for three Indonesian presidents successively, and was extremely influential in China.
Damianus Rudolph, a neighbor of Muliane, described the chaotic scene at the time: “It was early in the morning (August 31), when the first wave of attackers riding dozens of motorcycles came together to steal television, audio, clothes and foodstuffs.
The Indonesian state news agency Antara, citing two witnesses, said Ms. Mulliani herself was not at home at the time. On Sunday afternoon, Agence France-Presse reporters at the scene saw soldiers guarding the minister's residence and trucks carrying items from the house.
But Muliani was not the only victim, and the homes of several members of Congress were also targeted.
In the evening of Saturday (30 August), for example, the house of Ahmad Sahroni, a member of the National Democratic League (NasDem), was destroyed by crowds, vehicles and other property were damaged. The home of Indian House Deputy Nafa Urbach was also robbed early on Sunday, and the home of Congressman Eko Hendro was not saved.