Overview

• Thousands of students across Indonesia, including in Jakarta and Yogyakarta, are protesting President Prabowo Subianto's budget cuts and austerity measures implemented four months into his presidency.
• 'Dark Indonesia,' a viral movement on social media, symbolizes concerns over education funding reductions and other policies perceived as harmful to social support systems.
• Protesters criticize the reallocation of education funds to support a costly free school meal program, which has faced implementation challenges and uneven distribution across the country.
• Demonstrators are also opposing the military's involvement in civilian roles, cuts to subsidized cooking gas, and broader austerity measures affecting civil servants and public services.
• Despite the protests, Prabowo maintains a high approval rating near 80%, though analysts highlight fiscal strain from inherited debt and controversial policies like the new capital city project.