Govt gestures leave roots of Indonesia protests intact
Jakarta (AFP) – Government gestures to calm deadly protests in Indonesia have done little to address the economic inequality and hardship fuelling the unrest, leaving deep resentment to linger and flare up again, experts say.
Issued on: 02/09/2025-RFI
Demonstrators set alight banners as they shout slogans during a protest demanding police reform in Indonesia © Timur Matahari / AFP
The country's worst violence in decades left at least six people dead and 20 missing, with rallies over lavish perks for lawmakers descending into angry riots against police after officers were filmed running over a young delivery driver.
Southeast Asia's biggest economy recorded a surge in growth in the second quarter of the year on the back of manufacturing and export demand, which President Prabowo Subianto hailed, but everyday Indonesians are not seeing the data reflected in their wallets.
Instead they view a corrupt political class enriching itself and failing to listen to the public, while inequality grows between the rich and the poor, experts said.
"This is caused by economic issues. Some economic policies left the public quite annoyed or even angry," said Nailul Huda, economist at the Center of Economics and Law Studies (CELIOS).
"If economic growth is true, it will be felt by the lower-class society. Terminations are everywhere, and layoffs have increased up to 30 percent, which is quite high," he added.
Lavish benefits for lawmakers including a $3,000 housing allowance, which is nearly 10 times the minimum wage in the capital Jakarta, stirred the initial anger in protests last week before the driver's death.
The country's worst violence in decades left at least six people dead and 20 missing, with rallies over lavish perks for lawmakers descending into angry riots against police after officers were filmed running over a young delivery driver.
Southeast Asia's biggest economy recorded a surge in growth in the second quarter of the year on the back of manufacturing and export demand, which President Prabowo Subianto hailed, but everyday Indonesians are not seeing the data reflected in their wallets.
Instead they view a corrupt political class enriching itself and failing to listen to the public, while inequality grows between the rich and the poor, experts said.
"This is caused by economic issues. Some economic policies left the public quite annoyed or even angry," said Nailul Huda, economist at the Center of Economics and Law Studies (CELIOS).
"If economic growth is true, it will be felt by the lower-class society. Terminations are everywhere, and layoffs have increased up to 30 percent, which is quite high," he added.
Lavish benefits for lawmakers including a $3,000 housing allowance, which is nearly 10 times the minimum wage in the capital Jakarta, stirred the initial anger in protests last week before the driver's death.
University students block a road during a demonstration in Indonesia
© DEVI RAHMAN / AFP
The protests made Prabowo and parliament leaders U-turn and offer to revoke some perks, including issuing a moratorium on overseas visits.
But their moves have likely not gone far enough to address the underlying grievances of the wider public.
"The government appears insensitive to these concerns," said Nailul. "This has become the root of the administration's problems over the past four days."
Rising anger against the elite has manifested itself in looting, including the homes of several politicians.
It has not been confined to capital Jakarta either, with local and provincial council buildings set on fire or attacked with rocks and Molotov cocktails in cities across the country.
The protests made Prabowo and parliament leaders U-turn and offer to revoke some perks, including issuing a moratorium on overseas visits.
But their moves have likely not gone far enough to address the underlying grievances of the wider public.
"The government appears insensitive to these concerns," said Nailul. "This has become the root of the administration's problems over the past four days."
Rising anger against the elite has manifested itself in looting, including the homes of several politicians.
It has not been confined to capital Jakarta either, with local and provincial council buildings set on fire or attacked with rocks and Molotov cocktails in cities across the country.
'Govt fails to deliver'
Prabowo had already faced smaller protests in February over widespread budget cuts to fund populist policies, including a billion-dollar free meal programme and new sovereign wealth fund Danantara.
"The budgets that were supposed to be utilised by other sectors are being diverted to popular programmes which most likely still have many problems," said Jahen Fachrul Rezki, an economic researcher at the University of Indonesia.
Around 42,000 people were also laid off between January and June, a 32 percent rise on last year, according to the Ministry of Manpower.
"It might be true that our economy is expanding, but who's benefiting from the growth? Probably just capital owners," Jahen said.
A cost-of-living crisis is being felt by many as the country struggles with a shrinking middle class and slower income growth compared to rising prices because of inflation, according to Jahen.
"The government claimed that we have an increase of rice supply, but it is not reflected in the price," he said.
According to Statistics Indonesia on Monday, the price of the staple good increased by more than six percent on last year.
The number of people living below the poverty line in metropolitan Jakarta -- a megalopolis of around 11 million people -- was up from 362,000 in 2019 to 449,000 as of September 2024, government data says.
"The government initially promised during the campaign that there would be job opportunities, education, and no more layoffs," said Nailul. "But the government fails to deliver."
'A matter of time'
One of Prabowo's early moves was to announce Indonesia would hike its value-added tax to 12 percent, before reversing after a backlash and saying it would only apply to luxury goods.
Protesters throw stones at a local council building on Lombok island
© STR / AFP
"It is neither feasible nor wise for the government to raise VAT rates when people's purchasing power is declining," said Nailul.
The death of the delivery driver, Affan Kurniawan, also stoked anger because workers like him have faced bigger pay deductions and longer working hours due to the economic situation.
Such conditions mean many Indonesians will still feel the economic pain in the coming months, leaving the door open for fresh protests.
"The protests on the streets probably will come down in the next few days, but it's just a matter of time until public anger resurfaces again," said Ray Rangkuti, political analyst at think tank Lingkar Madani.
"Because we're not addressing the issues, we're just covering them up," Rangkuti added.
© 2025 AFP
"It is neither feasible nor wise for the government to raise VAT rates when people's purchasing power is declining," said Nailul.
The death of the delivery driver, Affan Kurniawan, also stoked anger because workers like him have faced bigger pay deductions and longer working hours due to the economic situation.
Such conditions mean many Indonesians will still feel the economic pain in the coming months, leaving the door open for fresh protests.
"The protests on the streets probably will come down in the next few days, but it's just a matter of time until public anger resurfaces again," said Ray Rangkuti, political analyst at think tank Lingkar Madani.
"Because we're not addressing the issues, we're just covering them up," Rangkuti added.
© 2025 AFP
Military deployed in Indonesia's capital as thousands protest lavish perks for lawmakers
The military were deployed in Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, on Monday as thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across the country to take part in increasingly volatile protests against lavish housing allowances for MPs. Six people have been killed since the demonstrations began over a week ago, with protestors calling for parliamentary reform.
Issued on: 01/09/2025 -
By: FRANCE 24
Prabowo: Stop State Violence, Revoke Parliamentarians’ Facilities and Allowances, End Repression Against Mass Action, Provide Justice for Victims
Statement of Position by the Indonesian Women’s Alliance (API)
Sunday 31 August 2025, by Indonesian Women’s Alliance (API)
The death of Affan Kurniawan, an online motorcycle taxi driver who participated in mass action and was run over by security apparatus vehicles, cannot be viewed as an isolated incident. This event is part of the face of systematic state violence; the apparatus is used to silence the people’s voices with impunity that continues to be allowed.
Today’s wave of popular anger is an accumulation of disgust over reckless policies and the arrogance of state officials. Basic commodity prices are rising, taxes are increasingly strangling, unemployment queues continue to grow, mass redundancies, seizure of customary lands, children victims of MBG poisoning. [1] When the people bear the suffering caused by the state, instead of showing empathy, DPR [2] members who are supposedly people’s representatives, together with officials, are instead having lavish parties in luxury, enjoying allowances, facilities, and soaring salaries. Not only that, the DPR and government also give awards to relatives and colleagues, even allowing officials to hold concurrent positions as BUMN [3] commissioners with abundant facilities.
In the field, people who dare to voice their disappointment and anger are instead faced with brutal repression from the state apparatus. Hundreds of people are arbitrarily arrested, beaten, and treated inhumanely. Tear gas is fired indiscriminately, even directed at places of worship and medical teams carrying out humanitarian duties. This situation not only threatens the safety of action participants, but also shows how the apparatus abandons its basic obligation to protect civilians. Women and students who are at the forefront of action are also not spared from violence; they experience intimidation, beatings, and discriminatory treatment simply for daring to express their opinions. All these repressive actions confirm that the state prefers the path of violence rather than opening democratic dialogue space.
The face of state violence is also visible in many regions: the transfer of Papuan political prisoners to Makassar, [4] agrarian and natural resource conflicts in Rempang, [5] Sulawesi, North Maluku, to the expanding military territory in civilian areas. The state chooses a violent approach rather than opening dialogue space with the people.
This reflects the characteristics of Prabowo’s government which is very militaristic, anti-women, and not pro-people. Prabowo [6] as the person responsible for governance perpetuates a culture of violence by adding battalions, kodams, [7] kodims, [8] and so forth to build defensive fortifications to crush people’s resistance demanding justice and to smooth the way for National Strategic Projects. Prabowo, with his empty efficiency rhetoric, chooses to suppress budgets related to people’s welfare and instead increases allowances for the DPR that does not perform its duties properly. When people protest, Prabowo is busy distributing honorary stars including to former corruption convicts.
This condition is a political and humanitarian crisis! The state that should protect is instead harming. The DPR that should represent and voice the people’s interests has instead become part of the oppression machine. Indonesian democracy is increasingly wounded!
Today the state is no longer ashamed to display the silencing of democracy. Sadistic and brutal repression is carried out openly, targeting people who voice loud rejection of discriminatory policies. The state continues to widen the gap of social and economic inequality with various policies that are not pro-people and have adverse impacts on the lives of women, disability groups, indigenous peoples, and vulnerable groups.
Therefore the Indonesian Women’s Alliance demands:
Prabowo must be held responsible for all violence against the people!
Justice for Affan Kurniawan and all victims of apparatus violence.
Remove the National Police Chief and Regional Police Chiefs for failing to make POLRI [9] an institution to perform the function of maintaining public security and order, enforcing law and maintaining protection and service to the community.
Release the names of apparatus perpetrators, monitor the legal process to completion, and stop impunity for human rights violators.
Comprehensive Police reform.
Eliminate the militaristic culture full of violence.
Stop the use of weapons, tear gas, war equipment and other tools against the people.
Stop the use of violence or unfounded arrests against mass action, students, women, indigenous peoples and vulnerable groups.
Revoke excessive facilities and allowances for DPR and state officials.
Revoke special facilities for DPR and state officials.
Open dialogue space by meeting and accommodating people’s voices in all regions.
Dismiss DPR members who do not carry out the constitutional mandate.
Reform taxation policies.
Stop tax increases that increasingly burden the people without considering the socio-economic conditions of society, especially vulnerable groups.
Open transparency to the public on the use of state budget allocation from taxes.
Stop oligarchy and the practice of holding multiple positions.
Reject the practice of state officials holding concurrent positions in BUMN.
Create a transparency portal so the public can monitor officials’ salaries and allowances.
Stop repression and open democratic space.
Support media independence to report facts without intervention.
Stop blocking and wiretapping on communication platforms and social media.
Stop criminalisation and violence against people who dare to speak out.
Evaluate government programmes and performance as well as ministry bureaucracy that does not side with the people, is not thorough in realising pro-people policies, does not function in preventing human rights violations that are actually committed by state institutions whilst consuming the state budget.
Therefore We, the Indonesian Women’s Alliance, state our position:
Demanding President Prabowo Subianto’s responsibility for the continuing state violence.
Strongly condemning repressive actions by the apparatus and demanding full justice for victims.
Urging the DPR as servants of the people to work according to the constitutional mandate, not to enrich themselves with excessive allowances and facilities.
Rejecting problematic programmes and projects that drain the APBN [10] without providing real benefits to the people.
Rejecting impunity and bringing to justice perpetrators of Human Rights violations.
Demanding unconditional release for mass action participants detained throughout Indonesia.
Together with the Indonesian Women’s Alliance:
Aliansi Perempuan Bangkit
Aneta-Papua
Artsforwomen Indonesia
Arus Pelangi
Asosiasi LBH APIK Indonesia
Betina issue (North Sulawesi)
Cakra Wikara Indonesia
Emancipate Indonesia
FAMM Indonesia
Federasi Serikat Buruh Persatuan Indonesia (FSBPI)
FeminisThemis
Forum Pengada Layanan
FPPI
Gema Alam NTB
Girl, No Abuse – Makassar
Y2F Media
WCC Puantara
ICJR
Ikatan Pemuda Tionghoa Banten
INFID
Institut KAPAL Perempuan
Jaringan Advokasi Nasional Pekerja Rumah Tangga (JALA PRT)
Jaringan Akademisi GERAK Perempuan
JASS
Kaoem Telapak
Kartini Manakarra
Kelas Muda
Koalisi Perempuan Indonesia
Koalisi Perempuan untuk Kepemimpinan (KPuK)
Kolektif Semai
Komunitas Empu Fesyen Berkelanjutan
Komunitas Feminis Gaia, Yogyakarta
Konsorsium PERMAMPU – Sumatera
Konde.c0
LBH APIK Jakarta
LBH Kalbar
Migrant CARE
Muslimah Reformis, Tangsel
OPSI
Peace Women Across the Globe network
Pamflet Generasi
Perempuan Mahardhika
Perempuan Mahardhika Palu
Perempuan Melawan (Aliansi Tolak Reklamasi Manado Utara)
Perempuan Solipetra (Petani Penggarap Kalasey Dua) North Sulawesi
Perhimpunan Jiwa Sehat
Perhimpunan Rahima
Perkumpulan DAMAR Perempuan Lampung
Perkumpulan Gemawan
Perkumpunan Kecapi Batara Indonesia
Perkumpulan Lintas Feminis Jakarta
Perkumpulan Samsara
Perkumpulan Sawit Watch
PHD PEREMPUAN AMAN LouBawe
Proklamasi Anak Indonesia
Rifka Annisa WCC Yogyakarta
Rumah Pengetahuan Amartya
Save All Women and Girls (SAWG)
Second Chance
Serikat Buruh Industri Perawatan Taiwan (SBIPT)
Serikat Buruh Migran Indonesia
Serikat Pekerja Kampus (SPK)
Solidaritas Feminis West Papua
Solidaritas Perempuan
Serikat Pekerja Kampus
Support Group and Resource Center on Sexuality Studies (SGRC) Indonesia
Suara Ibu Indonesia
Lembaga Pengembangan Sumber Daya Mitra (LPSDM NTB)
OPSI
Warga Humanis
Women’s March Jakarta 2025
YAPPIKA
Yayasan Gemilang Sehat Indonesia
Yayasan IPAS Indonesia
Yayasan Kalyanamitra
Yayasan Keadilan dan Perdamaian Indonesia
Yayasan Kesehatan Perempuan
Yayasan Penabulu
Yayasan Srikandi Sejati (YSS)
Contact persons:
Nabila – 0896-9368-0646
De – 0851-5875-5180
Ajeng – 0811-1313-760
29 August 2025
Source: Perempuan Mahardhika by Wendy Lim.
P.S.
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Attached documentsprabowo-stop-state-violence-revoke-parliamentarians_a9149.pdf (PDF - 935 KiB)
Extraction PDF [->article9149]
Footnotes
[1] MBG refers to the mass food poisoning incident that affected schoolchildren in Indonesia.
[2] DPR (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat) is Indonesia’s House of Representatives, the lower house of parliament.
[3] BUMN (Badan Usaha Milik Negara) are state-owned enterprises.
[4] Papua refers to Indonesia’s easternmost provinces, where there has been ongoing separatist conflict and human rights concerns.
[5] Rempang is an island in the Riau Islands province where there have been disputes over development projects affecting local communities.
[6] Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo[a] (is an Indonesian politician, businessman and military officer, president of Indonesia since 2024.
[7] Kodam (Komando Daerah Militer) are regional military commands.
[8] Kodim (Komando Distrik Militer) are district military commands
[9] POLRI (Kepolisian Negara Republik Indonesia) is the Indonesian National Police
[10] APBN (Anggaran Pendapatan dan Belanja Negara) is Indonesia’s national budget
Indonesian Women’s Alliance (API)
International Viewpoint is published under the responsibility of the Bureau of the Fourth International. Signed articles do not necessarily reflect editorial policy. Articles can be reprinted with acknowledgement, and a live link if possible.
The military were deployed in Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, on Monday as thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across the country to take part in increasingly volatile protests against lavish housing allowances for MPs. Six people have been killed since the demonstrations began over a week ago, with protestors calling for parliamentary reform.
Issued on: 01/09/2025 -
By: FRANCE 24
Indonesian soldiers wait for orders in Jakarta as hundreds protested outside parliament.
© Kristianto Purnomo, AFP
Thousands rallied across Indonesia Monday as the military was deployed in the capital after six people were killed in nationwide protests sparked by anger over lavish perks for lawmakers.
At least 500 protesters gathered outside the nation's parliament in Jakarta, watched by soldiers and police throughout the day, before dissipating after President Prabowo Subianto warned protests should end by sundown.
But elsewhere protests were more volatile. In Gorontalo city on Sulawesi island protesters clashed with police, who responded with tear gas and water cannon, according to an AFP journalist. In Bandung on the main island Java, protesters hurled Molotov cocktails and firecrackers at the provincial council building.
Thousands more rallied in Palembang on Sumatra island and hundreds gathered separately in Banjarmasin on Borneo island, Yogyakarta on the main island of Java and Makassar on Sulawesi, according to AFP journalists around the country.
"Our main goal is to reform the parliament," protester and university student Nafta Keisya Kemalia, 20, told AFP outside parliament before the protest ended.
"Do they want to wait until we have a martial law?"
The deadly protests, which began last week over MP housing allowances nearly 10 times the minimum wage in Jakarta, have forced President Prabowo Subianto and parliament leaders to make a U-turn over the perks.
Demonstrations began peacefully, but turned violent against the nation's elite paramilitary police unit after footage showed one of its teams running over 21-year-old delivery driver Affan Kurniawan late Thursday.
Protests have since spread from Jakarta to other major cities, in the worst unrest since Prabowo took power less than a year ago.
Police set up checkpoints across the capital on Monday, while officers and the military conducted city-wide patrols and deployed snipers in key locations, while the usually traffic-clogged streets were quieter than usual.
Thousands rallied across Indonesia Monday as the military was deployed in the capital after six people were killed in nationwide protests sparked by anger over lavish perks for lawmakers.
At least 500 protesters gathered outside the nation's parliament in Jakarta, watched by soldiers and police throughout the day, before dissipating after President Prabowo Subianto warned protests should end by sundown.
But elsewhere protests were more volatile. In Gorontalo city on Sulawesi island protesters clashed with police, who responded with tear gas and water cannon, according to an AFP journalist. In Bandung on the main island Java, protesters hurled Molotov cocktails and firecrackers at the provincial council building.
Thousands more rallied in Palembang on Sumatra island and hundreds gathered separately in Banjarmasin on Borneo island, Yogyakarta on the main island of Java and Makassar on Sulawesi, according to AFP journalists around the country.
"Our main goal is to reform the parliament," protester and university student Nafta Keisya Kemalia, 20, told AFP outside parliament before the protest ended.
"Do they want to wait until we have a martial law?"
The deadly protests, which began last week over MP housing allowances nearly 10 times the minimum wage in Jakarta, have forced President Prabowo Subianto and parliament leaders to make a U-turn over the perks.
Demonstrations began peacefully, but turned violent against the nation's elite paramilitary police unit after footage showed one of its teams running over 21-year-old delivery driver Affan Kurniawan late Thursday.
Protests have since spread from Jakarta to other major cities, in the worst unrest since Prabowo took power less than a year ago.
Police set up checkpoints across the capital on Monday, while officers and the military conducted city-wide patrols and deployed snipers in key locations, while the usually traffic-clogged streets were quieter than usual.
Marines secure positions along a street outside the parliament in Jakarta
© Bay Ismoyo, AFP
At least one group, the Alliance of Indonesian Women, said late Sunday it had cancelled its planned protest because of heightened security.
Schools and universities in Jakarta were holding classes online until at least Tuesday, and civil servants based in the city were asked to work from home.
On Monday Prabowo paid a visit to injured police at a hospital where he criticised protesters.
"The law states that if you want to demonstrate, you must ask for permission, and permission must be granted, and it must end at 6pm," he said.
Looting
Experts said Prabowo's U-turn in a speech on Sunday and parliament's gesture to revoke some lawmaker perks may not be enough to dispel the unrest.
"The Indonesian government is a mess. The cabinet and parliament will not listen to the people's pleas," 60-year-old snack seller Suwardi, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, told AFP near parliament.
At least one group, the Alliance of Indonesian Women, said late Sunday it had cancelled its planned protest because of heightened security.
Schools and universities in Jakarta were holding classes online until at least Tuesday, and civil servants based in the city were asked to work from home.
On Monday Prabowo paid a visit to injured police at a hospital where he criticised protesters.
"The law states that if you want to demonstrate, you must ask for permission, and permission must be granted, and it must end at 6pm," he said.
Looting
Experts said Prabowo's U-turn in a speech on Sunday and parliament's gesture to revoke some lawmaker perks may not be enough to dispel the unrest.
"The Indonesian government is a mess. The cabinet and parliament will not listen to the people's pleas," 60-year-old snack seller Suwardi, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, told AFP near parliament.
A car burns after being set ablaze during a protest against the Mobile Brigade Corps, or 'Brimob' in Jakarta. © Aditya Aji, AFP
"We have always been lied to."
The Indonesian stock index fell more than 3 percent at the open on Monday after the weekend unrest rattled markets.
Deep-rooted anger against police drove protests on Friday after footage of the van hitting Affan went viral. Seven officers were detained for investigation.
On Monday Agus Wijayanto, head of the accountability bureau at the National Police, told reporters an investigation had found criminal acts committed by two officers – the driver of the van and the officer next to him.
They "could be dishonourably discharged", said Agus.
The crisis has prompted Prabowo to cancel a trip to China this week for a military parade commemorating the end of World War II.
"We have always been lied to."
The Indonesian stock index fell more than 3 percent at the open on Monday after the weekend unrest rattled markets.
Deep-rooted anger against police drove protests on Friday after footage of the van hitting Affan went viral. Seven officers were detained for investigation.
On Monday Agus Wijayanto, head of the accountability bureau at the National Police, told reporters an investigation had found criminal acts committed by two officers – the driver of the van and the officer next to him.
They "could be dishonourably discharged", said Agus.
The crisis has prompted Prabowo to cancel a trip to China this week for a military parade commemorating the end of World War II.
Protests have spread beyond Jakarta to cities across Java and other islands.
© Juni Kriswanto, AFP
In recent days the finance minister's house was pillaged and several lawmakers have reportedly had their houses ransacked.
At least three people were killed after a fire Friday started by protesters at a council building in the eastern city of Makassar, while a fourth was killed by a mob in the city in a case of mistaken identity. Another confirmed victim was a student in Yogyakarta, who died in clashes.
In anticipation of further unrest, TikTok on Saturday suspended its live feature for "a few days" in Indonesia, where it has more than 100 million users.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
In recent days the finance minister's house was pillaged and several lawmakers have reportedly had their houses ransacked.
At least three people were killed after a fire Friday started by protesters at a council building in the eastern city of Makassar, while a fourth was killed by a mob in the city in a case of mistaken identity. Another confirmed victim was a student in Yogyakarta, who died in clashes.
In anticipation of further unrest, TikTok on Saturday suspended its live feature for "a few days" in Indonesia, where it has more than 100 million users.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Prabowo: Stop State Violence, Revoke Parliamentarians’ Facilities and Allowances, End Repression Against Mass Action, Provide Justice for Victims
Statement of Position by the Indonesian Women’s Alliance (API)
Sunday 31 August 2025, by Indonesian Women’s Alliance (API)
The death of Affan Kurniawan, an online motorcycle taxi driver who participated in mass action and was run over by security apparatus vehicles, cannot be viewed as an isolated incident. This event is part of the face of systematic state violence; the apparatus is used to silence the people’s voices with impunity that continues to be allowed.
Today’s wave of popular anger is an accumulation of disgust over reckless policies and the arrogance of state officials. Basic commodity prices are rising, taxes are increasingly strangling, unemployment queues continue to grow, mass redundancies, seizure of customary lands, children victims of MBG poisoning. [1] When the people bear the suffering caused by the state, instead of showing empathy, DPR [2] members who are supposedly people’s representatives, together with officials, are instead having lavish parties in luxury, enjoying allowances, facilities, and soaring salaries. Not only that, the DPR and government also give awards to relatives and colleagues, even allowing officials to hold concurrent positions as BUMN [3] commissioners with abundant facilities.
In the field, people who dare to voice their disappointment and anger are instead faced with brutal repression from the state apparatus. Hundreds of people are arbitrarily arrested, beaten, and treated inhumanely. Tear gas is fired indiscriminately, even directed at places of worship and medical teams carrying out humanitarian duties. This situation not only threatens the safety of action participants, but also shows how the apparatus abandons its basic obligation to protect civilians. Women and students who are at the forefront of action are also not spared from violence; they experience intimidation, beatings, and discriminatory treatment simply for daring to express their opinions. All these repressive actions confirm that the state prefers the path of violence rather than opening democratic dialogue space.
The face of state violence is also visible in many regions: the transfer of Papuan political prisoners to Makassar, [4] agrarian and natural resource conflicts in Rempang, [5] Sulawesi, North Maluku, to the expanding military territory in civilian areas. The state chooses a violent approach rather than opening dialogue space with the people.
This reflects the characteristics of Prabowo’s government which is very militaristic, anti-women, and not pro-people. Prabowo [6] as the person responsible for governance perpetuates a culture of violence by adding battalions, kodams, [7] kodims, [8] and so forth to build defensive fortifications to crush people’s resistance demanding justice and to smooth the way for National Strategic Projects. Prabowo, with his empty efficiency rhetoric, chooses to suppress budgets related to people’s welfare and instead increases allowances for the DPR that does not perform its duties properly. When people protest, Prabowo is busy distributing honorary stars including to former corruption convicts.
This condition is a political and humanitarian crisis! The state that should protect is instead harming. The DPR that should represent and voice the people’s interests has instead become part of the oppression machine. Indonesian democracy is increasingly wounded!
Today the state is no longer ashamed to display the silencing of democracy. Sadistic and brutal repression is carried out openly, targeting people who voice loud rejection of discriminatory policies. The state continues to widen the gap of social and economic inequality with various policies that are not pro-people and have adverse impacts on the lives of women, disability groups, indigenous peoples, and vulnerable groups.
Therefore the Indonesian Women’s Alliance demands:
Prabowo must be held responsible for all violence against the people!
Justice for Affan Kurniawan and all victims of apparatus violence.
Remove the National Police Chief and Regional Police Chiefs for failing to make POLRI [9] an institution to perform the function of maintaining public security and order, enforcing law and maintaining protection and service to the community.
Release the names of apparatus perpetrators, monitor the legal process to completion, and stop impunity for human rights violators.
Comprehensive Police reform.
Eliminate the militaristic culture full of violence.
Stop the use of weapons, tear gas, war equipment and other tools against the people.
Stop the use of violence or unfounded arrests against mass action, students, women, indigenous peoples and vulnerable groups.
Revoke excessive facilities and allowances for DPR and state officials.
Revoke special facilities for DPR and state officials.
Open dialogue space by meeting and accommodating people’s voices in all regions.
Dismiss DPR members who do not carry out the constitutional mandate.
Reform taxation policies.
Stop tax increases that increasingly burden the people without considering the socio-economic conditions of society, especially vulnerable groups.
Open transparency to the public on the use of state budget allocation from taxes.
Stop oligarchy and the practice of holding multiple positions.
Reject the practice of state officials holding concurrent positions in BUMN.
Create a transparency portal so the public can monitor officials’ salaries and allowances.
Stop repression and open democratic space.
Support media independence to report facts without intervention.
Stop blocking and wiretapping on communication platforms and social media.
Stop criminalisation and violence against people who dare to speak out.
Evaluate government programmes and performance as well as ministry bureaucracy that does not side with the people, is not thorough in realising pro-people policies, does not function in preventing human rights violations that are actually committed by state institutions whilst consuming the state budget.
Therefore We, the Indonesian Women’s Alliance, state our position:
Demanding President Prabowo Subianto’s responsibility for the continuing state violence.
Strongly condemning repressive actions by the apparatus and demanding full justice for victims.
Urging the DPR as servants of the people to work according to the constitutional mandate, not to enrich themselves with excessive allowances and facilities.
Rejecting problematic programmes and projects that drain the APBN [10] without providing real benefits to the people.
Rejecting impunity and bringing to justice perpetrators of Human Rights violations.
Demanding unconditional release for mass action participants detained throughout Indonesia.
Together with the Indonesian Women’s Alliance:
Aliansi Perempuan Bangkit
Aneta-Papua
Artsforwomen Indonesia
Arus Pelangi
Asosiasi LBH APIK Indonesia
Betina issue (North Sulawesi)
Cakra Wikara Indonesia
Emancipate Indonesia
FAMM Indonesia
Federasi Serikat Buruh Persatuan Indonesia (FSBPI)
FeminisThemis
Forum Pengada Layanan
FPPI
Gema Alam NTB
Girl, No Abuse – Makassar
Y2F Media
WCC Puantara
ICJR
Ikatan Pemuda Tionghoa Banten
INFID
Institut KAPAL Perempuan
Jaringan Advokasi Nasional Pekerja Rumah Tangga (JALA PRT)
Jaringan Akademisi GERAK Perempuan
JASS
Kaoem Telapak
Kartini Manakarra
Kelas Muda
Koalisi Perempuan Indonesia
Koalisi Perempuan untuk Kepemimpinan (KPuK)
Kolektif Semai
Komunitas Empu Fesyen Berkelanjutan
Komunitas Feminis Gaia, Yogyakarta
Konsorsium PERMAMPU – Sumatera
Konde.c0
LBH APIK Jakarta
LBH Kalbar
Migrant CARE
Muslimah Reformis, Tangsel
OPSI
Peace Women Across the Globe network
Pamflet Generasi
Perempuan Mahardhika
Perempuan Mahardhika Palu
Perempuan Melawan (Aliansi Tolak Reklamasi Manado Utara)
Perempuan Solipetra (Petani Penggarap Kalasey Dua) North Sulawesi
Perhimpunan Jiwa Sehat
Perhimpunan Rahima
Perkumpulan DAMAR Perempuan Lampung
Perkumpulan Gemawan
Perkumpunan Kecapi Batara Indonesia
Perkumpulan Lintas Feminis Jakarta
Perkumpulan Samsara
Perkumpulan Sawit Watch
PHD PEREMPUAN AMAN LouBawe
Proklamasi Anak Indonesia
Rifka Annisa WCC Yogyakarta
Rumah Pengetahuan Amartya
Save All Women and Girls (SAWG)
Second Chance
Serikat Buruh Industri Perawatan Taiwan (SBIPT)
Serikat Buruh Migran Indonesia
Serikat Pekerja Kampus (SPK)
Solidaritas Feminis West Papua
Solidaritas Perempuan
Serikat Pekerja Kampus
Support Group and Resource Center on Sexuality Studies (SGRC) Indonesia
Suara Ibu Indonesia
Lembaga Pengembangan Sumber Daya Mitra (LPSDM NTB)
OPSI
Warga Humanis
Women’s March Jakarta 2025
YAPPIKA
Yayasan Gemilang Sehat Indonesia
Yayasan IPAS Indonesia
Yayasan Kalyanamitra
Yayasan Keadilan dan Perdamaian Indonesia
Yayasan Kesehatan Perempuan
Yayasan Penabulu
Yayasan Srikandi Sejati (YSS)
Contact persons:
Nabila – 0896-9368-0646
De – 0851-5875-5180
Ajeng – 0811-1313-760
29 August 2025
Source: Perempuan Mahardhika by Wendy Lim.
P.S.
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Attached documentsprabowo-stop-state-violence-revoke-parliamentarians_a9149.pdf (PDF - 935 KiB)
Extraction PDF [->article9149]
Footnotes
[1] MBG refers to the mass food poisoning incident that affected schoolchildren in Indonesia.
[2] DPR (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat) is Indonesia’s House of Representatives, the lower house of parliament.
[3] BUMN (Badan Usaha Milik Negara) are state-owned enterprises.
[4] Papua refers to Indonesia’s easternmost provinces, where there has been ongoing separatist conflict and human rights concerns.
[5] Rempang is an island in the Riau Islands province where there have been disputes over development projects affecting local communities.
[6] Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo[a] (is an Indonesian politician, businessman and military officer, president of Indonesia since 2024.
[7] Kodam (Komando Daerah Militer) are regional military commands.
[8] Kodim (Komando Distrik Militer) are district military commands
[9] POLRI (Kepolisian Negara Republik Indonesia) is the Indonesian National Police
[10] APBN (Anggaran Pendapatan dan Belanja Negara) is Indonesia’s national budget
Indonesian Women’s Alliance (API)
International Viewpoint is published under the responsibility of the Bureau of the Fourth International. Signed articles do not necessarily reflect editorial policy. Articles can be reprinted with acknowledgement, and a live link if possible.
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