On June 20, about 1,500 Indonesian students gathered in the capital Jakarta to protest the economic policies of President Prabowo Subianto's government. Southeast Asia's largest economy faces growing fiscal pressure due to the global supply chain crisis.
The protesters raised five key demands, emphasizing reductions in fuel and food prices. They also called on the government to scale back social welfare programs they consider costly and "wasteful," including the free meal program and the village cooperative initiative — flagship projects of Mr. Prabowo.
The rally, titled "Towards Indonesia's Bankruptcy," saw participants wearing yellow university jackets after Friday prayers, marching toward the central Jakarta monument, the Hotel Indonesia traffic roundabout, where they gathered to voice their grievances.
Organizers said some protesters were blocked by police and military forces from participating. Scuffles broke out as some students tried to breach police lines and metal barriers. About 6,000 police and soldiers were deployed to monitor the march.
Indonesia's government previously kept fuel prices stable despite soaring global energy prices and supply chain disruptions linked to the war among the US, Israel, and Iran. However, mounting economic pressures weakened the rupiah, hitting a record low of 18,000 rupiah to the US dollar earlier this month, down from 16,000 rupiah in March. This week, the government raised prices by 32%, sparking widespread anger.
Protesters also called for more targeted spending. The $15 billion annual free meal program, aimed at reducing poverty and malnutrition, is under a corruption investigation. Mr. Prabowo fired the program's head earlier this month.
"Wasteful spending on free meals has led to a fiscal situation where initial subsidies were cut," student protester Rafael Arreva told Reuters news agency as he stood in front of police barricades.
Protesters also demanded an end to the expansion of the military's role in government, arguing it threatens the country's young democracy. "The government is denying the current situation," said Yatalathof Ma’shum Imawan, chairman of the student group organizing the protest, speaking to the Associated Press. "We call on Prabowo to have the courage to admit mistakes and stop denying."
Indonesia last saw large protests in August 2024, when people demanded housing reforms. Clashes between protesters and security forces left at least 13 dead.
