As the Death Death Demand

The participants of the rally were killed, the buildings were set on fire, and the houses of politicians were looted when anti -government unrest extended to Indonesia – and the authorities respond with force.

Mass demonstrations that are subjected to housing and the public disappointment of the political elite for the first time flared up in Jakarta on August 25 to condemn what many considered over -paying and housing benefits parliamentarians.

By the end of the week, everything boiled into violence. On Thursday night, after escalation of clashes between protesters and authorities, the Jakarta police moved and killed a 21-year-old Rideshare Affan Kurniawan motorcycle driver.

The President of the Subsont and the police chief apologized for death – but it caused further dissatisfaction, which has now spread to different corners of the archipelago, from the Western Java to Bali and Lambok.

On Monday, at least seven people were killed in protests, the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs of Indonesia reports.

The main trigger of the protests was the decision of the Indonesian government to increase the assistance of national parliamentarians.

Last month, local media reported that they were paid 100 million rupees (4,499 pounds; 6150 dollars) per month – more than 30 times more than the average national income – including considerable housing assistance.

Meanwhile, daily Indonesians fought because of the crisis of life.

“Since the government takes a rigid savings, and at a time when citizens feel economically dangerous, the concept that the already wealthy Indonesian political class will see that their income increases people with rage, and they spilled on the streets to express this fury,” the BBC Dr. Eve Warburton, director of the Indonesian Institute.

These protests from the death of Affan and since then have grown to the issues of cruelty and accountability of the police.

But there are other systemic problems that cause the anger of society: political corruption, social inequality and economic winds, of which the rich and powerful seem unfair isolated.

“The elites seem to be closed in the luxury of life – as it can be seen in the excessive advantages received by parliamentarians – the gear of a sense of justice,” Veda Hadis, Professor of Asian Studies at the Asian Institute Melbourne, explained.

In an attempt to stop nationwide protests, on Sunday, the President of the Dobrovo announced that several state benefits given to politicians would be overcome, including the amount of some benefits.

While this step was welcomed by the participants of the action, some believe that it does not go far enough.

Erianta, the former Central Coordinator of the All -Indonesian Student Trade Union, said the BBC that the announcement was “a step in the right direction, but this does not affect the root cause of dissatisfaction.”

“It is not only one question, but also about many years of problems with inequality, management and accountability,” he explained. “Symbolic changes are important, but people are expecting deeper reforms, especially in areas that affect ordinary citizens such as agricultural policy, education and fair economic opportunities.

“The ultimate goal is to push for more accountable, transparent and managing people.”

At the same time, when the benefits of politicians’ appeal, the breakthrough also ordered servicemen and police to take stronger measures against the rioters, marauders and arson after the houses of political party members and state buildings were found and fired.

The participants of the rally set fire to the regional legislative councils in several Indonesian provinces.

A local parliamentary building was set on fire in Makasar, killed at least three people and injured several others after people were reportedly trapped inside the burning building.

Meanwhile, in Jakarta, the angry crowds searched and plundered luxurious items from the houses of several members of the regional legislative assembly, which previously expressed non -sympathetic comments about protesters who criticized their high salaries.

The praises pushed the sorry to cancel the visit to China, promising to keep the situation directly and find the solution.

Tiktok also suspended its direct broadcast function in Indonesia “over the next few days”, seeking to limit the potentially inflammatory content against the background of live mass mobilization.

The erythets says that a total of the authorities are “mixed”.

“On the one hand, there were attempts to maintain the dialogue, but on the other hand, the use of excessive force caused concern,” he said. “Authorities must protect the right to peaceful protest, not suppress it.”

The instructions for the breakthrough to power to strengthen the repression – including shutdown of lights in protest zones and the use of rubber bullets – even more attached geriatal, causing the fear of the police.

“History has shown us that when the state is granted safety over dialogue, the risk of excessive force and human rights abuses is increasing,” he says.

“We hope that the authorities act with restriction and prior de -escalation, not confrontation.”

It is unclear where the protests will go from here – whether they will continue the spiral in further violence and repression or force the government to yield more soil.

But regardless of the result, the situation is the most serious problem of the leadership of the sorry after becoming the president in 2024.

“This is the main test,” said D -R Warburton. “Can he place the participants of the action and stop the demonstration of the rolling without resorting to excessive violence in the state or repression? This is a question.”

The commander of the ex-special forces, who is accused of serious human rights violations, sorry to rethink himself through the “cute” video “Tiktta to defeat young voters.

But many Indonesians remember him as the son -in -law of the Military dictator Sukharto, who rose rapidly through the ranks of the authoritarian regime.

His victory in the last year’s election was met with some concern, and he faced the anger of the Protestants ‘Students’ Counts for Health and Education in February this year.

Fortunately, he knows the strength of student protests – they went on an important role in the Sukhorte regime. So, as it responds, it will be critical.

On Monday, a short lull, when some Indonesian students and civil society abolished protests in Jakarta, citing “impossible conditions” after the authorities were escalating security measures in the capital.

Police set up checkpoints around the city, while officers and servicemen conducted patrols in the city and launched snipers in key places.

Some experts warn that recent escalations can become the tip of the iceberg as many major economic problems remain unresolved.

It was the depth and width of these issues that the modern anti-government actions of such force gave, and distinguished them from many others, which the Indonesians launched in recent years-forced them, according to Mr. Hadis, “among the most significant outbreaks of the protests after the Reformation appeared.”

This is a reference to the reforms that followed the fall of Sukhrti in 1998, joining the era of democracy and stability.

D -Rrburtan also agrees that the value of these protests is “very different from what we have seen in the last two decades.”

“In recent years, the waves of popular protests have taken place, often headed by progressive students and activists,” she explained.

“The current demonstrations are different-croissants and are probably more widely felt. Protests reflect a sense of economic uncertainty about people and resentment on the greed and excessively elected officials.”

Even when he sorry to respond to the demands that have caused demonstrations – twisting parliamentary assistance and having launched an investigation into the incident, causing the death of Avan – protest organizers hope to seize the impetus for a wider system’s repair.

“It feels significant,” says Geria. “Social movements often arise in response to accumulated grievances, and such moments can become a turning point.

“Does it lead to significant changes depends on the readiness of the leaders to listen and act in the interests of people, not just protect political or elite interests.”

Additional BBC Indonesia reporting