Overview

• President Prabowo Subianto departed for Beijing to attend Wednesday’s Victory Day parade, with a meeting with Xi Jinping expected and a return to Jakarta scheduled for September 3.
• China’s foreign ministry had earlier announced Prabowo’s cancellation and said Foreign Minister Sugiono would attend the SCO Tianjin Summit and commemorations, while urging protection of Chinese institutions and personnel in Indonesia.
• Rights groups report at least six deaths and more than 20 people missing after nationwide demonstrations over living costs that spread from Jakarta to multiple cities and included arson near a police compound.
• The unrest intensified after motorcycle taxi driver Affan Kurniawan was fatally struck by a police vehicle during a protest, prompting Prabowo to order a thorough, transparent investigation and accountability for officers involved.
• The government revoked some parliamentary allowances, imposed a moratorium on overseas visits, deployed the armed forces to tighten security, and warned of strong action against rioters, drawing criticism from Amnesty International Indonesia.