In brief
The Indonesian government has agreed to cut several perks for politicians in a bid to quell crises resulting from widespread protests. With tensions rising due to a mix of grievances—including a controversial allowance for lawmakers and a tragic incident involving protesters—President Prabowo Subianto stated that steps were being taken to address the discontent. Despite these concessions, dissent continues with demands for wider reforms from protesters.
Indonesian political parties have agreed to reverse some state-funded perks their politicians receive in a bid to quell nationwide protests, the country's president has said. Several cities in the southeast Asian nation including the capital, Jakarta, have been gripped by anti-government demonstrations in the past week that have at times led to clashes between protesters and police.While the protests have been fueled by a wide range of issues, including the death of a ride-sharing driver, one core complaint concerns a new monthly allowance for lawmakers. President Prabowo Subianto announced on Sunday that several perks would be reined in, including the size of some allowances.The Indonesian leader, who has already had to cancel a trip to China over the unrest, stated that some demonstrations had exceeded peaceful expression and may amount to treason and terrorism. He ordered police and armed forces to take strong action against looting and property damage, following incidents where the homes of officials were targeted.Protests have primarily centered around an increase in parliamentarians' allowances by 50 million rupiah ($3,030; £2,250), nearly 10 times the minimum wage in Jakarta. Tensions escalated after the tragic death of 21-year-old Affan Kurniawan, who was run over by a police vehicle during a protest.Following this incident, Prabowo and the chief of police issued public apologies with assurances of investigations into the use of excessive force by police. Notably, three individuals lost their lives after demonstrators set fire to a regional parliament building.Despite the recent concession to cut allowances, protesters have declared that such measures are insufficient, demanding more profound resolutions to systemic issues like higher wages and anti-corruption measures. The ongoing unrest poses a significant challenge for President Prabowo's administration, marking a critical test of his leadership since taking office.
