Indonesians Protesting Lawmakers’ Lavish Allowances Clash with Police  

Riot police in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta this week deployed water cannons and teargas to disperse thousands of stone-throwing protesters demonstrating against a number of issues, including the lavish allowances that lawmakers receive and education funding, the Guardian reported. 

Thousands of students, workers, and activists demonstrated outside the parliament on Monday and Thursday, where they threw rocks and bottles at police and set fires as they tried to break into the building.  

Authorities blocked streets, leading to major traffic jams, and deployed hundreds of security personnel. According to local civil rights groups, police arrested around 600 people during the protests, Reuters noted. 

While Monday’s demonstrations were relatively peaceful, Thursday’s rallies turned deadly when a police tactical vehicle ran over a motorcycle ride-sharing driver, killing him.  

President Prabowo Subianto and other officials apologized for the incident and vowed to conduct a full investigation, Channel News Asia added. 

The unrest initially sparked because of a $3,075 monthly housing allowance that 580 members of parliament have been receiving since September 2024, on top of their regular salaries, according to Al Jazeera. 

But it soon evolved to highlight the economic hardship many Indonesians are facing, growing discontent with government policies and anger over the country’s “corrupt elites.” 

Labor unions have listed a series of demands, including better wages, stronger anti-corruption measures, and the revision of Indonesia’s 2020 Job Creation Law. 

Another point of discontent is the growing role of the military in civilian life: In March, Indonesia passed a law allowing the armed forces to take on more civilian roles.  

In July, the government said the military would start manufacturing pharmaceuticals. This month, it announced 100 new military battalions to be trained in agriculture and animal husbandry. 

Public anger is also fueled by the strict austerity measures enacted by Subianto, which include cuts to education, health, and public works.  

Meanwhile, corruption remains endemic in Indonesia, and citizens perceive police and lawmakers as widely corrupt. Analysts think the sudden rise in demonstrations might signal a new level of anger toward the Subianto administration.