Indonesian Parliament Protests Escalate into Violence
In recent days, massive protests have erupted outside the Indonesian Parliament, with thousands of students and civilians clashing with riot police, leading to further unrest spreading to the city’s commercial district. On Thursday night, a motorcycle driver was fatally run over by a police armored vehicle, further igniting public anger.
Videos circulating on social media show the police armored vehicle running over a motorcycle driver while dispersing the crowd outside the Parliament, resulting in the driver’s immediate death. Jakarta Police Chief Asep Edi Suheri acknowledged the accident and publicly apologized, confirming that seven officers involved have been detained for investigation.
The local motorcycle drivers’ association clarified that the deceased individual was not part of the demonstration. The incident of death quickly sparked public outrage, prompting motorcycle driver groups to gather in front of police precincts overnight, demanding severe punishment for those responsible.
The largest student organization in Indonesia, the All-Indonesia Student Association (BEM SI), announced plans to protest at the National Police Headquarters on the afternoon of the 29th, calling for the dismissal of the police chief and accountability for the widespread arrests and violent law enforcement during the crackdown.
Meanwhile, the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) posted on Instagram, urging authorities to release the 600 individuals detained during the protests.
On the afternoon of the 28th, outside the Jakarta Parliament building, demonstrators chanted slogans demanding the dissolution of Parliament, calling for an immediate response from the government. Some in the crowd threw rocks and sharpened bamboo sticks at riot police, leading to clashes with the police. The protests were primarily led by students, with some workers and civil society groups joining in.
This marks the second major protest in Jakarta this week. On Monday, hundreds of students and civic groups were dispersed by riot police using water cannons and tear gas during a demonstration.
The trigger for the protests was the Parliament’s approval since September last year of a monthly housing allowance of 50 million Indonesian rupiahs (approximately $3030) for MPs, while the national average monthly income is only 3.1 million Indonesian rupiahs. The public criticized the policy as out of touch with grassroots living conditions, further fueling social unrest.
According to media reports, the total salary and benefits of parliamentarians may exceed 100 million Indonesian rupiahs per month (over $6,000), creating a significant disparity with the national average income.
Although Indonesia’s inflation rate has remained around 3% in recent years, living expenses such as food and education continue to rise. Coupled with layoffs in the textile industry, many households are feeling financial pressure, criticizing the government for neglecting the hardships of the grassroots.
The central government’s budget cuts have forced localities to raise local taxes. Earlier this year, the Central Java’s Pati Regency announced a significant increase of up to 250% in property taxes, triggering tens of thousands of villagers, farmers, and unemployed workers to protest. Faced with intense pressure, the regent ultimately withdrew the measures. Similar protests have spread to other regions like South Sulawesi and West Java. The Ministry of Home Affairs subsequently requested local governments to review or repeal excessive taxes to quell discontent.
Less than a year into President Prabowo Subianto’s tenure, the continuous protests have posed a severe test to his governance. Last year, nationwide protests forced Parliament to abandon electoral law amendments and briefly rocked Indonesia’s currency and stock market. Now, with rising living costs and policy controversies, public discontent in Indonesian society is steadily escalating.
(This article references related reports from Reuters and Bloomberg)