Thousands Protest in Indonesia as Troops Secure Capital

Indonesia—(Special Correspondent/Web Desk)—Thousands of people protested across Indonesia on Monday after the military was deployed in the capital following deadly clashes. The unrest began over lawmakers receiving lavish perks, which sparked nationwide anger and resulted in six deaths.

In Jakarta, at least 500 protesters gathered outside parliament on Monday afternoon, while dozens of police officers kept watch. Soldiers were present earlier in the day but left after several hours.

Large demonstrations also took place in Palembang on Sumatra island, while hundreds of people rallied in Banjarmasin on Borneo, Yogyakarta on Java, and Makassar on Sulawesi, according to AFP reporters across the country.

“Our main goal is to reform the parliament. We want lawmakers to meet us and talk directly,” said Nafta Keisya Kemalia, a 20-year-old student outside parliament. “Do they want to wait until martial law?” she added.

The protests began last week after outrage over housing allowances for MPs—nearly 10 times the minimum wage in Jakarta. The backlash forced President Prabowo Subianto and parliament leaders to reverse the decision.

What started peacefully turned violent after a viral video showed an elite police unit vehicle running over a 21-year-old delivery driver, Affan Kurniawan, late on Thursday.

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Since then, protests have spread from Jakarta to other major cities, marking the worst unrest since Prabowo took office. Police checkpoints and military patrols were set up across the capital, and snipers were deployed in key locations. Streets were quieter than usual as a result.

Hundreds of soldiers were stationed at Jakarta’s national monument, and some were positioned outside the presidential palace. One women’s rights group, the Alliance of Indonesian Women, canceled its protest due to heavy security measures.

Schools and universities in Jakarta switched to online classes until at least Tuesday. Civil servants were also instructed to work from home.

President Prabowo visited injured police officers in a hospital and criticized protesters, saying demonstrations must be approved and end by 6 p.m. as per law.

Experts warned that revoking the perks may not stop the protests. Many citizens believe the government ignores public demands. “We have always been lied to. That’s why people are angry,” said Suwardi, a 60-year-old snack seller near parliament.

The unrest shook financial markets, with the Indonesian stock index dropping more than three percent on Monday morning.

Anger against police grew after the viral video of Affan’s death. Seven officers were detained for investigation. Two officers were found guilty of criminal acts and face dismissal. Their ethics trial is set for Wednesday.

The crisis also forced Prabowo to cancel a planned trip to China for a military parade marking World War II’s end.

Violence continued over the weekend. The finance minister’s house was looted, and lawmakers’ homes were attacked. Three people died in a fire started by protesters in Makassar, and another person was killed by a mob in a case of mistaken identity. A student in Yogyakarta also died in clashes.

To prevent further unrest, TikTok suspended its live streaming feature in Indonesia for a few days.