Days of unrest have rocked Indonesia, forcing President Prabowo Subianto to cancel a high-profile diplomatic trip and sparking a dramatic political reckoning. What began as protests over lawmakers’ pay in Jakarta quickly escalated into a nationwide crisis, leaving buildings in flames, lives lost, and the government scrambling to restore order.
The trouble started in late August 2025, when news broke that all 580 members of Indonesia’s parliament were receiving a monthly housing allowance of 50 million rupiah—about $3,075—on top of their salaries. As reported by the Associated Press, this sum is nearly ten times the minimum wage in Jakarta, a city where many residents struggle with rising living costs, unemployment, and new taxes. Critics called the allowance “excessive” and “insensitive,” especially given the country’s economic challenges.
By August 25, demonstrators had filled the streets of Jakarta, demanding an end to what they saw as political privilege and government tone-deafness. The protests only grew in size and intensity as the week wore on. Then, tragedy struck on August 28. During a rally, a police armored vehicle from the National Police’s Mobile Brigade unit plowed into a crowd, fatally striking 21-year-old ride-hailing driver Affan Kurniawan. According to witnesses cited by AP, Kurniawan was delivering food when the vehicle suddenly sped through the demonstrators. “Instead of stopping, the car ran over him,” one witness told local television. The incident, captured in a viral video, shocked the nation and ignited further outrage toward security forces.
In the aftermath, solidarity demonstrations erupted even on the tourist island of Bali—a rare sight. Hundreds of ride-hailing drivers and students marched to the regional police headquarters, calling for police reform and the release of those arrested during the protests. Riot police fired tear gas to disperse the crowds, while protesters responded with rocks and flares, as reported by AP.
The unrest was not confined to Jakarta or Bali. On August 29 and 30, angry crowds set fire to regional parliament buildings in West Nusa Tenggara, Pekalongan in Central Java, Cirebon in West Java, and Bandung. In Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi, a parliament building was torched late on August 29, resulting in at least three deaths and five hospitalizations, according to local disaster official Fadli Tahar. State news agency Antara reported that some victims were trapped inside, while others were injured after leaping from the burning structure in a desperate bid to escape. Local media also mentioned an additional unconfirmed death in Makassar.
Other flashpoints included Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city, where protesters stormed the regional police headquarters, destroyed fences, and set vehicles ablaze. Security forces responded with water cannons and more tear gas, but demonstrators fought back with fireworks and wooden clubs. In Jakarta, authorities arrested around 950 people by August 29, according to the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM). The police reported about 25 officers hospitalized with serious injuries, though Komnas HAM suggested the number of injured protesters was likely higher.
As the violence escalated, foreign embassies—including those of the U.S., Australia, and several Southeast Asian nations—advised their citizens to avoid demonstration areas. By August 30, calm had mostly returned to Jakarta, but authorities faced the daunting task of cleaning up burned-out cars, police offices, and bus shelters left in the wake of the unrest.
The crisis quickly took on a digital dimension. The government accused disinformation circulating on social media of fueling the anger. In response, representatives from Meta and TikTok were summoned and urged to tighten content moderation. On August 30, TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, announced it had suspended its live-streaming feature in Indonesia for several days, according to CNN and Reuters.
Meanwhile, the protests took a personal turn for some politicians. Demonstrators in Jakarta looted the home of NasDem party lawmaker Ahmad Sahroni, carrying off household furniture and other belongings. Sahroni had come under fire for his dismissive response to calls for parliament to be dissolved, reportedly labeling his critics as “the stupidest people in the world.”
With the nation in turmoil, President Prabowo Subianto faced mounting pressure. On August 31, he canceled a planned trip to China, where he had been scheduled to attend a Victory Day parade in Beijing on September 3 to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. “The president wants to continue monitoring (the situation in Indonesia) directly…and seek the best solutions,” presidential spokesperson Prasetyo Hadi explained in a video statement. “Therefore, the president apologizes to the Chinese government that he could not attend the invitation.” Hadi added that preparations for the upcoming United Nations General Assembly were also a factor in the decision.
That same day, President Prabowo announced a major concession: the government would revoke some privileges and perks for parliamentarians. Political parties quickly agreed to the rollback, hoping to calm public anger. But the president’s tone was stern. He denounced the violence, saying, as reported by ABC, that “some actions during the rallies amounted to treason and terrorism.” His administration insisted that while peaceful protest is a right, property destruction and attacks on police had crossed a line. National Police Chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo echoed this at a news conference, declaring, “Such situations can no longer be considered freedom of expression, but rather criminal acts.” He promised that police and military would “immediately act to restore public order.”
The roots of the unrest run deep. Many Indonesians have long been frustrated by what they see as a political class insulated from the economic realities facing ordinary citizens. The introduction of the generous housing allowance—especially at a time of economic hardship—proved to be the spark that ignited broader grievances about inequality, accountability, and government responsiveness.
For President Prabowo, the past week has been the most serious test of his leadership since taking office nearly a year ago. His decision to cancel his overseas trip and focus on the crisis at home was widely seen as a necessary move, but whether the government’s concessions and security crackdown will be enough to restore trust remains to be seen.
As calm tentatively returns to the streets, Indonesians are left to reckon with the aftermath: lives lost, buildings destroyed, and a political system forced—at least for now—to listen to the voices of the people.