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Indonesia is grappling with widespread protests fueled by economic hardship and a perceived return to authoritarian tactics, sparking a violent response from police and raising concerns about the future of the world’s third-largest democracy. Demonstrations that began on August 25th have escalated into clashes with authorities, resulting in at least 10 deaths and over 3,000 arrests.
Economic Grievances Ignite Public Anger
The initial catalyst for the unrest was public outrage over a $3,000 housing allowance for lawmakers – a sum nearly ten times the minimum wage in Jakarta. This disparity highlighted a growing sense of inequality, with many Indonesians feeling the government prioritizes the interests of a wealthy elite while youth unemployment soars and wages remain stagnant. Austerity measures implemented since President Prabowo Subianto took power last year, cutting billions from vital public services like healthcare and education, have further exacerbated these frustrations.
Escalation of Violence and Government Response
The situation spiraled after a 21-year-old motorcycle taxi driver was fatally struck by an armored police vehicle during a protest. While President Subianto and his police chief have issued apologies and one officer involved in the incident has been dismissed, these measures have failed to quell the public anger. The president has denounced the demonstrations as “treason and terrorism” while simultaneously seeking to address the underlying discontent.
“The state must step in to protect its citizens,” Subianto stated during a televised news conference, emphasizing the need to maintain order while acknowledging the right to peaceful assembly. However, the response from law enforcement – including the use of tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets – has been widely condemned as excessive.
International Condemnation and Calls for Investigation
The heavy-handed tactics employed by Indonesian police have drawn criticism from international organizations. The United Nations has called for an investigation into the “alleged use of unnecessary or disproportionate force by security forces.” Amnesty International’s regional research director for East and Southeast Asia, Montse Ferrer, asserted, “Nobody should die while exercising their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.”
Deep-Rooted Distrust of the Police
The current unrest has resurfaced a long-standing distrust of the Indonesian police force. As one scholar of Indonesian security and policing at Murdoch University in Perth, Australia, noted, “Ordinary people have long repeated a saying ‘report a chicken, lose a buffalo,’ meaning if you engage the police in routine law enforcement … you are likely to suffer more material loss than the original theft.”
This sentiment stems from years of accusations of extrajudicial killings, torture, and corruption, issues rooted in the country’s three-decade period of authoritarian rule under President Suharto, which ended in 1998. Even after democratization, the police force has remained closely tied to political interests, fostering a “deeply corrupt, violent and predatory force that is widely hated by ordinary people.”
Concerns are also growing about President Prabowo Subianto’s own history and potential shift towards authoritarianism. Subianto, a former military general, is accused of human rights abuses, including the abduction of dissidents, during the Suharto era. Critics allege he is now expanding the military’s role in civilian institutions, a move they fear signals a return to repressive policies. Subianto has denied these accusations.
The ongoing protests and the government’s response represent a critical juncture for Indonesia, testing the resilience of its democratic institutions and raising fundamental questions about its future trajectory.
