Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto has pledged to revoke lawmakers’ perks and privileges, including a controversial $3,000 housing allowance, in a bid to ease public fury after nationwide protests in which six people have died.
Flanked by leaders of eight Indonesian political parties, Prabowo told a televised news conference in the capital, Jakarta, that they had agreed to cut the housing allowance and suspend overseas trips for members of parliament. It was a rare concession in response to mounting public anger.
By Monday, “lawmakers will see certain allowances scrapped and overseas work trips suspended under a new moratorium,” Prabowo said.
Police set up checkpoints across Jakarta on Monday, with more protest gatherings planned in several locations around Indonesia’s vast archipelago. A police spokesperson told broadcaster Kompas TV that officers were also patrolling the city to “protect” citizens and give a sense of security.
Police had deployed a convoy of armoured cars and motorbikes to parliament late on Sunday, in a show of force to warn off protesters.
The defence minister, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, a close ally of Prabowo, warned on Sunday that the military and police would take “firm action” against “rioters and looters”, after the house of the finance minister was pillaged.
In anticipation of further unrest, TikTok on Saturday temporarily suspended its live feature for “a few days” in Indonesia, where it has more than 100m users.
After nationwide protests escalated across the world’s third-largest democracy last week, Prabowo during the weekend summoned the country’s prominent figures and cancelled a high-profile trip to China. He met 16 religious figures and eight political leaders, including former president Megawati Sukarnopurti, the chair of the country’s only formal opposition party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle.
Five days of protests began in Jakarta on Monday, sparked by reports that all 580 lawmakers receive a monthly housing allowance of 50m rupiah ($3,075) in addition to their salaries. The allowance, introduced last year, is almost 10 times the Jakarta minimum wage.
Critics argue the new allowance is not only excessive but also insensitive at a time when most people are grappling with soaring living costs and taxes and rising unemployment.
The protests grew wider and more violent after the death of 21-year-old ride-hailing driver Affan Kurniawan. A video on social media apparently showing his death during a rally in Jakarta on Thursday shocked the nation and spurred an outcry against the security forces.
Kurniawan was reportedly completing a food delivery order when he was caught in the clash. Witnesses told local television that the armoured car from the National Police’s mobile brigade unit suddenly sped through the crowd of demonstrators and hit Kurniawan, causing him to fall. Instead of stopping, the car ran over him.
Prabowo said police are investigating seven officers over the incident.
The death toll from riots that broke out in multiple cities rose to six after the Amikom Yogyakarta University confirmed the death of 21-year-old student Rheza Sendy Pratama in protests on Friday. The circumstances around his death remain unclear.
At least three people were killed in the eastern city of Makassar on Friday after a fire was started by protesters at a council building.
Another victim died in Makassar on Friday after he was beaten by a mob on suspicion that he was an intelligence officer, local disaster agency official Muhammad Fadli Tahar told Agence France-Presse on Sunday.
Prabowo reiterated that his government respects freedom of expression as guaranteed in Indonesia’s constitution and international conventions.
“But when demonstrations turn anarchic, destroying public facilities, endangering lives, and attacking private homes or public institutions, this becomes a serious violation of law,” he said.
Prabowo cautioned that violent acts risked veering into treason and terrorism, and warned “the state would not tolerate attempts to destabilise the country”.
The former general further called on the public to express their aspirations in a peaceful and constructive manner, and promised their voices will be heard.
“I sincerely ask all citizens to trust the government and remain calm,” Prabowo said, adding his government “is determined to always fight for the interests of the people and the nation.”
