Jakarta saw one of the largest waves of demonstrations throughout the country on Wednesday, which resulted in at least one fatality and more than 600 arrests. The demonstrations erupted in response to reports revealing that members of Indonesia’s House of Representatives are receiving a housing allowance significantly higher than the monthly minimum wage in impoverished areas. The violent clashes between protesters and police have reignited discussions about the state of democracy in Indonesia, resonating particularly among the nation’s youth.
As demonstrators continued to march toward Jakarta, demands for the dissolving of the parliament only grew louder. Local media placed the number of students arrested at about 171, mostly from the neighboring cities of Bogor, Depok, and Tangerang. That the demonstrators faced violent police response to their protest only served to further stoke outrage across the country, as noted by the legal aid organization.
Police Violence and Public Outcry
Footage shared on social media shows police releasing tear gas and water cannons on the peaceful crowd. This aggressive action has drawn universal condemnation. Thousands of young Indonesians took to the streets to voice their anger against the government’s repressive response. One protester lamented, “They are vulnerable people. They should be protected instead of being faced with [apparatus wearing] intimidating uniforms and weapons.”
The protests became deadly when 21-year-old motorcycle taxi driver Affan Kurniawan died. His tragic death has fueled public anger and mistrust against the government. Senior Commissioner Ade Ary from the Jakarta local police expressed regret over the incident, stating, “They hit the road because they wanted their children, wife, husband, relatives to have a bright future, but they always get painful treatment in return.”
Police spokesperson Asep Edi Suheri defended the actions taken by law enforcement, asserting that “this endangers motorists and disrupts public order.” He stressed that police had arrested seven officers responsible for the violent reaction and expressed regret for any misconduct.
The Trigger Behind the Protests
It was the revelations that ignited the protests. It turned out that these 580 members of Indonesia’s House of Representatives are entitled to a monthly housing allowance of 50 million rupiah, or $4,739. This sum is about 20 times the minimum wage in poorer areas. The disparity between government allowances and the plight of the average citizen is shocking. This unmet demand has forced millions to lose faith in the legitimacy of their elected leaders.
Arif Maulana from a legal aid foundation remarked on the protests’ implications for Indonesian democracy: “This illustrates the setback of Indonesia’s democracy.” He slammed the attitude shared by many politicians, police and security personnel that treats law-abiding protesters as criminals who should be arrested instead of protected.
Deputy Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad defended the necessity of the allowance to help legislators buy or rent houses in Jakarta. This is a sharp turn after the government backed out of its subsidized housing program. This logic hasn’t been enough to calm the public firestorm.
Youth Engagement and Future Implications
Despite ongoing protests, young Indonesians have become some of the strongest critics of their government’s moves. Famed activist Satya Azyumar hammered down the point that the protesters flooded the streets. They did it because they love their country. “The protesters who experienced physical violence and got run over were those who love the country,” he stated.
Even as police issued warnings asking students to avoid being incited by social media messages to join the protest, students continue to defy. The authorities have demanded harsh legal punishment for any person violating the law by protesting. Police defended their commitment to maintaining law and order. Furthermore, they emphasized protecting minors in demonstrations.
