Indonesia Tightens Security Following Deadly Protests

Indonesian authorities intensified security measures on Monday after unrest over economic hardship escalated into violent confrontations, resulting in the deaths of six people. The protests, initially focused on financial perks for lawmakers, have forced President Prabowo Subianto to reverse the controversial measures.

Background and Spread of Protests

• The demonstrations began peacefully, but turned violent against the nation’s elite paramilitary police unit after footage emerged showing one of its teams running over 21-year-old delivery driver Affan Kurniawan late on Thursday.
• Protests quickly spread from the capital Jakarta to other major cities including Yogyakarta, Bandung, Semarang, Surabaya in Java, and Medan in North Sumatra province, marking the most serious unrest since Prabowo assumed power.
• More gatherings of students and protesters were scheduled across Indonesia’s vast archipelago on Monday.

Security Measures

• Police checkpoints were established across Jakarta, with officers patrolling to “protect” citizens and provide a sense of security, according to a police spokesman on Kompas TV.
• A convoy of armoured cars and motorbikes was deployed to parliament late on Sunday as a show of force to deter protesters.
• The crisis has forced President Prabowo to cancel a planned trip to China this week for a military parade commemorating the end of World War II.
• Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, a close ally of Prabowo, warned on Sunday that military and police forces would take “firm action” against rioters and looters, following reports that the finance minister’s house was ransacked.

Casualties and Incidents

Additional Measures

• In anticipation of further unrest, TikTok temporarily suspended its live feature for “a few days” in Indonesia, where it has over 100 million users.

The violent unrest highlights growing frustration among the Indonesian population over economic hardship and governance issues, prompting both security crackdowns and social media restrictions. Authorities continue to monitor cities closely as they attempt to restore order while preventing further escalation.