Mass anti-government protests are sweeping across Indonesia, leaving at least seven people dead, after the killing of a young delivery driver ignited widespread anger over political privilege, police brutality, and deepening economic hardship.
The unrest began in Jakarta on August 25, when thousands took to the streets to denounce what they saw as lavish salaries and housing allowances for parliamentarians at a time when ordinary Indonesians are struggling with rising living costs. Demonstrations escalated last week after police in Jakarta ran over and killed 21-year-old motorcycle rideshare driver Affan Kurniawan during clashes with protesters.
President Prabowo Subianto and the national police chief issued public apologies, but the incident only fueled discontent, spreading protests across the archipelago from West Java to Bali and Lombok. By Monday, Indonesia’s coordinating minister for economic affairs confirmed that at least seven people had died in the violence.
At the heart of the outrage are reports that parliamentarians earn upwards of 100 million rupiah ($6,150) a month—more than 30 times the national average income—alongside generous housing and lifestyle perks. For many Indonesians, the allowances symbolized the widening gap between political elites and struggling citizens.
“As the government is undertaking austerity measures, and at a time when citizens are feeling economically insecure, the notion that Indonesia’s already wealthy political class would see their incomes rise filled people with rage, and they spilled onto the streets to express that rage,” said Dr. Eve Warburton, director of the Indonesia Institute at the Australian National University.
The demonstrations have since expanded into broader calls for reform, with protesters demanding accountability over police violence, as well as action on corruption, inequality, and economic hardship. “Elites seem cloistered in a life of luxury – as seen in the exorbitant perks received by parliamentarians – grating people’s sense of justice,” said Vedi Hadiz, professor of Asian Studies at the University of Melbourne.
In an attempt to calm tensions, President Prabowo announced cuts to certain parliamentary perks on Sunday. The move was cautiously welcomed, but critics say it does little to address deeper frustrations. “It is not only about one issue, but about long-standing concerns with inequality, governance and accountability,” said Herianto, a former coordinator for the All-Indonesian Students’ Union. “Symbolic changes are important, but people expect deeper reforms, particularly in areas that affect ordinary citizens such as agricultural policy, education and fair economic opportunities.”
At the same time, Prabowo ordered security forces to intensify crackdowns on rioters, looters, and arsonists after government buildings and politicians’ homes were set ablaze. In Makassar, a regional parliament building was torched, killing three people after they were trapped inside. In Jakarta, protesters stormed and looted homes of local legislators who had dismissed public anger as “misguided.”
The president cancelled a scheduled trip to China to focus on the crisis. TikTok, widely used to organize demonstrations, suspended its live-streaming feature in Indonesia to curb mobilization. But human rights advocates warn that heavy-handed tactics, including police use of rubber bullets and blackout measures in protest areas, risk deepening public anger.
“History has shown us that when the state prioritises security measures over dialogue, the risk of excessive force and human rights violations increases,” said Herianto. “We hope the authorities act with restraint and prioritise de-escalation rather than confrontation.”
For Prabowo, the unrest represents the most serious test of his presidency since he took office in 2024. A former general once accused of human rights abuses, he won last year’s election partly by appealing to young Indonesians through viral TikTok content. But many still recall his ties to former dictator Suharto, his one-time father-in-law, and his reputation as a military strongman.
Experts say the current wave of protests is among the most significant since the 1998 reformasi movement that toppled Suharto. “There have been waves of popular protest in recent years, often led by progressive students and activists,” said Dr. Warburton. “The current demonstrations are different – the grievances run deeper and are likely more broadly felt. The protests reflect people’s sense of economic insecurity and pent-up resentment toward the greed and excesses of their elected officials.”
On Monday, some student groups briefly suspended demonstrations in Jakarta, citing “impossible conditions” after checkpoints and sniper deployments made protesting in the capital increasingly dangerous. Yet analysts warn the lull could be temporary. With food prices rising, inequality widening, and trust in government eroding, Indonesia’s unrest may only be at its beginning.
“This feels significant,” said Herianto. “Social movements often emerge in response to accumulated grievances, and moments like this can become turning points. Whether it leads to meaningful change depends on the willingness of leaders to listen and act in the interest of the people, rather than merely defending political or elite interests.”