2025 - Politics
Indonesia faced its worst unrest in decades in August and September 2025. The scale of unrest was unprecedented: protests spread to dozens of provinces, involving arson, looting, and violent clashes with police. By 05 September 2025 death tolls ranged from 7 to 10, hundreds were injured, thousands arrested or detained, and military forces deployed in major cities. More than 1,240 people have been arrested in the capital, Jakarta — and at least 20 people were missing, according to the KontraS rights group.
Pink and green quickly came to symbolize a solidarity movement after violent protests, sparked by discontent over economic inequality and lavish perks for lawmakers, rocked Southeast Asia's biggest economy. Pink represents the color of the hijab worn by a woman who stood outside the House of Representatives to protest, waving the national flag in defiance of police guarding the building. Green came to symbolize 21-year-old delivery driver Affan Kurniawan, who was run over by an armored paramilitary police vehicle and whose death stoked anger among workers who face big pay deductions and longer working hours. Even though Affan wasn’t part of the protest, his tragic circumstances unified broader segments of society—including delivery drivers, students, and labor activists—into a broader protest movement against government excess and police brutality
Mid-February 2025 marked the beginning of student protests under the banner #IndonesiaGelap, driven by anger at government austerity, budget cuts, and the increasing role of the military in civilian governance. These protests, initiated by the All-Indonesian Students’ Union (BEM SI), started around 17–18 February, with larger mobilizations planned for Jakarta on 19–20 February, and further demonstrations across the country following Friday prayers. In March, a second wave emerged opposing a revision to the Indonesian National Armed Forces Law (RUU TNI), perceived as empowering the military and undermining civilian supremacy.
A more explosive phase began on 25 August 2025, triggered by public outrage over lawmakers’ extravagant housing allowances—widely viewed as insensitive amidst rising economic hardship. The protests in Indonesia turned violent on 28 August 2025 after footage showed elite paramilitary police running over 21-year-old Affan Kurniawan, online motorcycle taxi driver (commonly referred to in Indonesia as an "ojol" driver), working with platforms such as Gojek and Grab. During a protest in Central Jakarta near the parliament building, Affan was delivering a food order when he was accidentally caught up in the chaos. While stepping forward—reportedly to retrieve a dropped mobile phone—he was struck by a Mobile Brigade (Brimob) armored vehicle driven through the crowd. After the initial collision, the vehicle proceeded to run over him again as it sped away.
The National Police Chief and other senior officials publicly apologized; meanwhile, the government launched a formal investigation, and Parliament scrapped the controversial housing allowance at the heart of the protests,
Civil society in the Southeast Asian archipelago mobilized. Through social media and street demonstrations, a collective movement took shape. The digital call spread quickly, amplified by public figures and influencers who circulated a list of demands to be met by the government within a week. Indonesian authorities have since disabled TikTok's livestream feature, which had become a key platform for information-sharing and protest mobilization. The military deployed across Jakarta on 01 September 2025 as hundreds gathered outside parliament and clashes were reported in several other cities. Troops were also stationed along major streets in Surabaya, Bandung, Yogyakarta and Makassar,
The current wave of demonstrations was rooted in long-standing structural pressures. Mounting economic hardship, policies perceived as indifferent to the struggles of ordinary citizens and a political elite seen as lacking empathy have all converged to fuel public anger. World Bank data shows that about 60% of Indonesia's workforce still depends on the informal sector, without stable income or social protection. This was worsened by a shrinking middle class: millions slipping into lower-income brackets or outright poverty. According to figures from the Center of Economic and Law Studies (CELIOS), nearly 10 million Indonesians experienced downward mobility in the past five years.
Meanwhile, food prices surged, job opportunities narrowed, and more than 42,000 workers have been laid off since early 2025. In June 2025, the Indonesian government even stopped releasing official layoff data, citing concerns over "public panic." Amid these realities, a viral video of lawmakers dancing during the August annual parliamentary session became a potent symbol of elitist detachment.
Public anger deepened when parliament approved a housing allowance hike of up to 50 million rupiah (around €2,600/$3,000) per month, boosting lawmakers' already lavish compensation packages — starkly contrasting with Indonesia's per-capita monthly income of just 6.5 million rupiah, according to 2024 government data. A 1994 Ministry of Finance decree still grants public officials a special tax allowance exempting them from paying personal income tax.
The situation reached a breaking point when Affan Kurniawan, a motorcycle taxi driver, was fatally struck by an armored vehicle during a protest crackdown. Affan, who struggled daily to survive on a modest income, became a tragic symbol of how marginalized Indonesians are being crushed under economic pressure.
The mass protests carried several demands, including a call to cancel the proposed increase in allowances for members of parliament. As violence against demonstrators intensified, the list of demands expanded. Citizens began rallying around a movement known as "17+8."
Protesters urged the government to address 17 urgent issues within a week. These include forming a team to investigate the killing of Affan Kurniawan, ending military involvement in civilian security, releasing detained demonstrators, prosecuting officers responsible for violence in the protests, and halting police brutality. Citizens also outlined eight structural demands, including reforming Indonesia's parliament, political parties, and national police institutions. They have requested the government to address their demands within a year.
"At the very least, the points on parliamentary reform must be implemented. Otherwise, we will remain in this same position in the years to come," said Jovial da Lopez, a participant in the mass demonstrations. The demands were voiced not only by residents in Indonesia but also by Indonesians living abroad, including in Germany. "This is our expression of solidarity with friends in Indonesia. The demonstration also serves as a way to share information about what is happening there, as Indonesia is currently facing serious challenges," said Walter Ng, an Indonesian student based in Berlin.
Walter and his peers echoed the same concerns raised by demonstrators in Indonesia. "We call for an end to violence and brutality committed by security forces against civilians," Walter told DW. "We also urge the government to halt tax increases that are placing greater pressure on the public. Furthermore, we demand the creation of space for dialogue and the protection of freedom of expression without intimidation or discrimination in any form."
On 31 August 2025, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto summoned ministers to the State Palace and delivered remarks regarding the demonstrations. In his speech, Prabowo said that some actions in rallies amounted to "treason and terrorism."
Political communication expert from Padjadjaran University, Kunto Adi Wibowo, argued that Prabowo had yet to acknowledge the structural crisis affecting society. "The president failed to identify the root causes. He does not recognize the existence of a crisis and views the tragedy during the protests as a non-systemic issue. This perspective is problematic," Kunto said.
Prabowo also instructed the Indonesian National Police and the Indonesian National Armed Forces to take firm action against individuals involved in violence during the demonstrations. Since then, military personnel have been stationed at various locations and have conducted night patrols, particularly in areas frequently used for protests.
"The military is not trained to respond to peaceful protests," said deputy director of Amnesty International Indonesia, Wirya Adiwena. "They are trained for warfare and national defense," Wirya told DW. "That is not the appropriate role when dealing with civilian demonstrations. So when the military is deployed to respond to public protests, how does the government perceive its citizens?"
President Prabowo also pledged to promote police officers who were injured while securing the demonstrations. "Prabowo is siding with repressive forces by granting privileges and high praise to police and military personnel. This has further angered civilians and reflects a lack of sensitivity," Kunto said.
Political and legal analysts expressed concern that the state's militaristic approach could lead to impunity for law enforcement agencies. Amnesty International's Wirya is among them. "Security forces may feel that violence is justified. Violence against individuals or families defending their rights is being normalized by the state," Wirya said.
Social media platforms have been flooded with posts offering free psychological counseling, medical services, legal aid, emergency contacts for missing persons and donation channels to help meet the needs of protest participants. Ordinary citizens consistently shared messages online encouraging mutual care, rejecting racially charged provocations, verifying information and maintaining focus on demands directed at the government. "There is a growing call among citizens to build an empathy-driven movement and keep the focus on push back against authoritarian practices implemented by the state," said Wirya.
Solidarity efforts extended beyond Indonesia's borders, reaching neighboring countries in Southeast Asia. "The support from friends across Southeast Asia has been remarkable. Netizens from Malaysia and Thailand have even sent food to motorcycle taxi drivers," said Kunto, who also researches how social media informs political attitudes. "This solidarity transcends national boundaries."
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