Source : Al-Jazeera
Jakarta, Indonesia – August 30, 2025 – Violent protests have gripped Indonesia for nearly a week, sparked by public outrage over lawmakers’ high salaries and escalating into widespread unrest that has claimed lives and drawn comparisons to the country’s turbulent past.
The demonstrations began on August 25 when police fatally shot a motorcycle taxi driver during a rally in Jakarta against the generous compensation packages for parliament members. What started as a localized grievance quickly spread to major cities including Surabaya and Makassar, where angry crowds set fire to government buildings and vehicles in acts of defiance.
In one of the deadliest incidents, three government employees perished after jumping from a burning regional parliament building in Makassar, with five others sustaining injuries in the chaos. The protests are fueled by deeper economic frustrations under President Prabowo Subianto’s administration, including soaring inflation, high unemployment rates, and declining wages that have strained millions of Indonesians.
President Prabowo, who was inaugurated in October 2024, has faced his first major crisis with these events, prompting him to cancel a planned trip to China to focus on quelling the disturbances. In response to the growing unrest, authorities imposed a nationwide suspension of TikTok Live features, amid allegations of police brutality and imposed media blackouts that have hindered reporting on the ground.
The current wave of protests has evoked memories of the 1998 riots that led to the fall of longtime ruler Suharto, raising concerns among observers that Indonesia could see a resurgence of authoritarian measures to suppress dissent. Demonstrators have escalated their demands, calling for Prabowo’s immediate resignation and accusing his government of authorizing excessive force against civilians.
Adding to the controversy, retail chain Miniso faced backlash after deleting a video that appeared to downplay the severity of the protests. The company has not issued an apology, leading to widespread calls for a boycott among protesters and social media users.
As clashes continue, security forces have been deployed in larger numbers, but the government’s handling of the situation remains under intense scrutiny both domestically and internationally. Officials have yet to announce concrete measures to address the underlying economic issues driving the discontent.