Thousands of Indonesians poured into the streets as protests over lavish parliamentary perks turned deadly, leaving at least six people killed in the country’s worst political turmoil since President Prabowo Subianto took office.
In Jakarta, about 500 demonstrators rallied outside the national parliament under the watch of heavily armed police and soldiers. The crowd dispersed after Prabowo reminded protesters that gatherings must end before sunset.
Elsewhere, violence escalated. In Gorontalo, Sulawesi, demonstrators clashed with riot police firing tear gas and water cannons. In Bandung, West Java, protesters hurled petrol bombs and firecrackers at a regional government building. Thousands more marched in Palembang, South Sumatra, while rallies also erupted in Banjarmasin, Yogyakarta and Makassar.
“Our main goal is parliamentary reform,” said Nafta Keisya Kemalia, 20, a student protesting in Jakarta.
The unrest was sparked by revelations that lawmakers’ housing allowances are nearly ten times Jakarta’s minimum wage. Anger deepened after a video went viral showing members of an elite police unit assaulting a 21-year-old ride-hailing worker late last week.
At least six people were killed, including three in a fire at a government building in Makassar, one student in Yogyakarta, and another who was mistakenly targeted.
Parliament has since pledged to roll back several perks, but analysts say the concessions may not be enough to defuse public anger. The crisis also forced Prabowo to cancel a planned state visit to China.
Authorities in Jakarta have tightened security with roadblocks, armed patrols and rooftop snipers, while schools shifted to online learning and civil servants were ordered to work from home.
Meanwhile, police confirmed robberies at the homes of the finance minister and several lawmakers. TikTok temporarily suspended live-streaming in Indonesia, where the platform has more than 100 million users.
