Jakarta, September 4, 2025 — A coalition of student groups, backed by workers and rights organizations, will stage a protest today at Indonesia’s Parliament, pressing for accountability and an independent investigation into mounting police violence. This follows last week’s deadly confrontations sparked when a police vehicle fatally struck a motorcycle taxi driver, igniting public outrage over economic inequality, corruption, and excessive force. The unrest has so far left at least 10 dead and over 1,000 injured, with more than 3,000 arrests reported.
Students from the BEM SI coalition, who already met with parliament leaders, were offered a promised meeting with government authorities—but assert that no follow-up has taken place. They emphasize that public frustration stems not from the protests themselves, but from deeper systemic issues such as “corruption and the politicisation of the law,” said BEM SI leader Muzammil Ihsan.
Workers associated with the Gebrak union will stand alongside students, demanding the release of detained protestors and calling for reforms to policing practices. Human Rights Watch likewise condemned the state’s crackdown, urging that protests not be met with excessive force or wrongful detentions.
President Prabowo Subianto has responded firmly, warning of military and police action against those involved in unrest, and suggesting elements of the protests may reflect “terrorism and treason.”
** Deepening Unrest and Shifting Momentum**
These demonstrations unfold amid broader expressions of discontent following revelations of generous parliamentary perks, including a $3,000 housing allowance—about ten times the minimum wage in many regions—fueling the formation of the “17+8 Demands” platform, representing immediate and structural reforms.
