Event Summary
In late August 2025, widespread protests erupted in Jakarta and other major Indonesian cities, triggered by outrage over lawmakers’ new housing allowances of 50 million rupiah per month (≈USD 3,000) – nearly ten times the Jakarta minimum wage – amid austerity and a state budget deficit. Reports on the allowances sparked anger among students, workers, and activists, who denounced “corrupt elites” and demanded accountability.
On 25 August 2025, thousands attempted to breach barriers near Parliament, clashing with over 1,200 police officers who fired tear gas and water cannons. Protests soon widened to oppose cuts in education funding, President Prabowo Subianto’s costly free school meals program, and the expanded military role in civilian governance.
The crisis escalated on 28 August 2025 when Affan Kurniawan, a ride-hailing driver, was fatally struck by a police tactical vehicle, as confirmed by Tempo, Reuters, and ABS-CBN. His funeral was attended by hundreds of drivers in solidarity. The Jakarta Legal Aid Institute reported 600 detentions, half of them minors, condemning mass arrests and excessive police force.
President Prabowo expressed condolences and ordered the arrest of seven officers involved. However, dismissive comments from parliamentarians, including House Speaker Puan Maharani defending the allowances, further inflamed public distrust.
With austerity cuts, 13% youth unemployment, and the revised Armed Forces Law expanding military authority, these developments not only undermine freedoms of assembly and expression but also intimidate citizens, creating a hostile environment for civil society engagement. They also reveal distorted resource allocation—prioritizing perks for legislators over investment in civil society and public services—further constraining the enabling environment. Civil society is demanding systemic reforms in governance, fiscal accountability, and human rights protections. This includes independent probes into police brutality, reforms to crowd-control practices, and heightened scrutiny of parliamentary perks.
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