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2w ago

Indonesia Tightens Security as Prabowo Cuts Lawmakers’ Perks After Deadly Unrest

Mounting outrage over elite allowances, fueled by a viral police‑vehicle killing, pushed student-led rallies into nationwide unrest.

Image
Police officers cover themselves with riot shields as a protester throws rock at them during a protest against lavish allowances given to parliament members, outside the parliament in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
A protester walks with an Indonesian flag in front of a police headquarters that was set on fire and looted during demonstrations in Surabaya on August 31, 2025.
Protesters shout slogans during a protest, against lavish allowances given to parliament members, outside the parliament in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

Overview

  • Police and military set checkpoints and patrols in Jakarta, with snipers posted at key sites as schools move online and civil servants work from home.
  • At least six people have been killed, with some reports citing seven, after protests escalated following video of 21-year-old Affan Kurniawan being run over by an armored police vehicle.
  • President Prabowo Subianto announced reductions to lawmakers’ benefits and a halt to overseas trips for MPs, and he canceled a planned visit to China.
  • Protests spread from Jakarta to cities including Yogyakarta, Bandung, Surabaya and Medan, with arson, looting and attacks on public buildings; a Makassar council fire left three dead and the finance minister’s home was ransacked.
  • Jakarta authorities report 1,240 detentions, 469 injuries and damage estimated at 55 billion rupiah, while police say seven officers tied to Kurniawan’s death are under investigation and foreign embassies urge citizens to avoid protest areas as TikTok pauses live streams.