Indonesian politicians to have perks cut in bid to quell unrest
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Deadly Indonesia protests force U-turn on lawmakers’ perks
Indonesian political parties have agreed to cut lawmakers’ benefits. President Prabowo Subianto said he had ordered the military and police to take stern action against rioters and looters. Protests began on Monday over what demonstrators called excessive pay and housing allowances for parliamentarians. More protests are planned for Monday, and student groups did not call them off after PrabOWo’s announcement. The death toll rose to five on Sunday, according to the local disaster management agency in Makassar, South Sulawesi province. It said an online motorcycle taxi driver was beaten to death by a mob of people accusing him of being an intelligence agent. Three others were killed in an arson attack on the local building building in the city of Bekasi. The protests represent the most significant challenge yet to Prabbowo’s government, which has faced little political opposition since taking office.
Protests began on Monday over what demonstrators called excessive pay and housing allowances for parliamentarians, escalating into riots on Friday after a motorcycle rideshare driver was killed during police action at a protest site.
Homes of political party members and state buildings were ransacked or set ablaze, shaking investor confidence in the Southeast Asian economy and triggering a steep selloff on its stocks and currency markets on Friday.
Looters broke into a house owned by Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati outside the capital Jakarta overnight, state news agency Antara reported on Sunday. She was not in the house at the time and it was not clear if she uses the property often.
More protests are planned for Monday, and student groups did not call them off after Prabowo’s announcement.
Prabowo, speaking at a press conference at the Presidential Palace and flanked by the leaders of various political parties, said he had ordered the military and police to take stern action against rioters and looters. He said some of the unrest bore the signs of terrorism and treason.
“Leaders in parliament have conveyed that they will revoke a number of parliament policies, including the size of allowances for members of parliament and a moratorium on overseas work trips,” Prabowo said.
“To the police and the military, I have ordered them to take action as firm as possible against the destruction of public facilities, looting at homes of individuals and economic centres, according to the laws,” he added.
CHALLENGE TO PRABOWO
The protests represent the most significant challenge yet to Prabowo’s government, which has faced little political opposition since taking office nearly a year ago.
Prabowo, who cancelled a high-profile trip to China due to the unrest, also met on Sunday with key members of his cabinet at the Presidential Palace to discuss the situation.
Many ministers and political leaders arriving at the palace used civilian number plates instead of special ones given to officials, a witness said, in an apparent security measure as unrest simmered in some places.
The military was deployed to guard the palace on top of the usual secret service detail. Many key ministers’ homes and government installations were also being guarded by the military on Sunday.
It remains unclear who is behind the rioting and looting that followed the protests, which were initially organised by student associations.
Muzammil Ihsan, head of the All Indonesian Students’ Executives Body, the country’s largest student umbrella group, told Reuters cutting lawmakers’ perks was “not enough” and said further demonstrations were being “considered”.
“The government must resolve deep-rooted problems. The anger on the streets is not without cause,” Ihsan said.
Tegar Afriansyah, the chairman of a smaller student group, Indonesian Student League for Democracy, which has been protesting since Monday, said the presidential announcement does not address the root of the problem, which is “political oligarchy and an unequal economic structure”.
He termed Prabowo’s instructions to police and military as “clearly repressive and intimidating”.
Global rights watchdog Amnesty International’s Indonesia chapter in a statement termed Prabowo’s use of terms such as treason and terrorism as “excessive”.
TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, said it had suspended its live feature in Indonesia for a few days.
The death toll rose to five on Sunday, according to the local disaster management agency in Makassar, South Sulawesi province. It said an online motorcycle taxi driver was beaten to death by a mob accusing him of being an intelligence agent.
Three others were killed in an arson attack on the local parliament building on Friday.
Indonesian politicians to have perks cut in bid to quell unrest
Indonesian politicians to have perks cut in bid to quell unrest. President Prabowo Subianto announced on Sunday that several perks would be reined in, including the size of some allowances. Several cities in the southern Asian nation including the capital, Jakarta, have been gripped by anti-government demonstrations in the past week. The protests have been fuelled by a wide range of issues – including the death of a ride-sharing driver – but one core complaint concerns a new monthly allowance for lawmakers.
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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 southern 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 fuelled 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 – said some demonstrations had gone beyond what was considered peaceful and may amount to “treason and terrorism”. He added that he had ordered the police and armed forces to take strong action against looting and property damage. The home of Indonesia’s finance minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati was among several targeted by looters on Sunday, news agency AFP reports. The protests have primarily centred on an increase of 50 million rupiah ($3,030; £2,250) in parliamentarians’ allowances – almost 10 times the minimum wage in Jakarta. But they escalated after Affan Kurniawan, a 21-year-old ride-sharing driver, was run over by a police vehicle during a demonstration in the capital on Thursday. The incident inflamed tensions and prompted accusations that police were using excessive force to deal with protesters. Seven officers were found to have violated a professional ethics code and an investigation into the incident has been launched. Ride-hailing and delivery drivers in Indonesia have long argued that their pay and conditions are unfair. The death of one of their own brought shows of solidarity amongst their ranks. Prabowo and the chief of police both issued public apologies for the incident, with the president saying he was “shocked and disappointed” by the officers’ actions. Three people were killed after protesters set fire to a regional parliament building on Friday evening. Over the weekend protests continued, with police in central Jakarta firing tear gas to disperse crowds on the streets, while some demonstrators throwing Molotov cocktails and firecrackers at a police compound.
AFP via Getty Images President Prabowo Subianto made his statement alongside political party leaders on Sunday
Indonesian finance minister’s home looted as protest anger grows
The house of Sri Mulyani Indrawati in South Tangerang, a city neighbouring the capital Jakarta, was ransacked in the early hours of Sunday. Soldiers were guarding her residence on Sunday afternoon, when an AFP journalist saw trucks carrying away some objects from the house. Protests have spread to other major cities, including Yogyakarta, Bandung, Semarang and Surabaya in Java, and Medan in North Sumatra province. The demonstrations are the biggest and most violent of Prabowo Subianto’s presidency.
Southeast Asia’s biggest economy has been rocked by protests in major cities since the death of motorcycle taxi driver Affan Kurniawan, who was run over by police during a rally against financial perks for lawmakers.
The demonstrations are the biggest and most violent of Prabowo Subianto’s presidency, a key test for the ex-general less than a year into his rule, and anger has now spread to some members of parliament.
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The house of minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati in South Tangerang, a city neighbouring the capital Jakarta, was ransacked in the early hours of Sunday in two waves, said neighbour Damianus Rudolf.
“In the first group of looters, there were dozens of motorcycles ridden by two to three people each. In the second group, there were around 150 people,” the 34-year-old told AFP.
“They looted a television, sound system, living room decorations, clothes, plates, bowls.”
Sri Mulyani was not inside the house when the incident occurred, state news agency Antara reported, citing two witnesses.
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She is an influential figure who once served as managing director of the World Bank and has served as finance minister for three different presidents.
Soldiers were guarding her residence on Sunday afternoon, when an AFP journalist saw trucks carrying away some objects from the house.
Several other lawmakers’ homes have also been looted in recent days, including the house of Ahmad Sahroni from the NasDem party that serves in Prabowo’s ruling coalition. Crowds attacked the property on Saturday night and damaged objects, including a car, Antara reported.
The house of another NasDem party politician, Nafa Urbach, was ransacked early Sunday, local media reported citing a witness.
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A mob stormed the house of lawmaker Eko Hendro Purnomo on Saturday night, Antara reported.
Protests have spread to other major cities, including Yogyakarta, Bandung, Semarang and Surabaya in Java, and Medan in North Sumatra province.
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Protest sparks brief gate closure, emergency alert at Minnesota State Fair
The Minnesota State Fair briefly closed its main gate on Saturday afternoon. A protest that marched from Hamline Park to the fair’s main gate prompted a single gate closure. The gate reopened and traffic resumed as normal at 2:32 p.m. The protest was organized by Black Lives Matter protesting against corruption, racism, standing up for justice and more. This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Aug 30, 2025, where it first appeared in the MN News section. Add Bring me The News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways
The Minnesota State Fair briefly closed its main gate on Saturday afternoon.
A protest that marched from Hamline Park to the fair’s main gate prompted a single gate closure beginning at 1:08 p.m.
Buses using that gate were paused, and pedestrians were redirected to other entrances, a spokesperson tells Bring Me The News.
The annual protest, called the Not Fair: Stop Taking Cheap Shots Rally, was organized by Black Lives Matter Twin Cities. “Enough is enough,” reads an event page for the protest. “Join us in a loud, peaceful stand against corruption, racism, and the evil, money-hungry politics-for-profit machine that is destroying lives, warping our future, and destroying the environment.”
Minnesota State Fair in 2025Photo by Dustin Nelson/Bring Me The News
An emergency alert was issued to nearby residents, KSTP reports, notifying fairgoers that the gate was not operating due to the protest. The publication adds that the protestors returned to Hamline Park without incident, according to the St. Paul Police Department.
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The gate reopened and traffic resumed as normal at 2:32 p.m.
“Saint Paul Police were closely monitoring an organized peaceful protest that was scheduled for today. The protest was organized by Black Lives Matter protesting against corruption, racism, standing up for justice and more,” St. Paul PD said.
“The group marched from Hamline Park, 1564 LaFond Ave to the front gate of the MN State Fair, traffic was shut down for a short time at approximately. Saint Paul Police monitored and provided traffic control for the protest to ensure the safety of everyone involved. At approximately 2:30pm the group left and marched back to Hamline Park without incident … The State Fair made the decision to close the gate.”
Related: Walz mulls special session on gun legislation following Annunciation shooting in Minneapolis
This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Aug 30, 2025, where it first appeared in the MN News section. Add Bring Me The News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Indonesia cuts lawmaker perks as president tries to quell protests
At least five people have been killed in protests against economic hardship. Lawmakers were receiving a housing allowance nearly 10 times higher than the minimum wage. The protests are the biggest and most violent of President Prabowo Subianto’s presidency. Police say they will take “firm action” against “rioters and looters” who enter private homes or state institutions. The president has pledged an investigation into the killing of motorcycle driver Affan Kurniawan and promised to help his family. In response to the protests, social media app TikTok temporarily suspended its live feature for “a few days” in Indonesia, where it has more than 100 million users. One international school said its classes would take place online until Tuesday and civil servants working in Jakarta were asked to work from home. The government has pledged to fast-track economic growth but has already faced protests against state-driven budget cuts, which are expected to continue for months.
Southeast Asia’s biggest economy was rocked by protests in major cities in recent days after footage spread of a motorcycle taxi driver being run over by a police vehicle at a rally against lucrative perks for lawmakers.
“The parliament leadership conveyed that they would revoke several policies, including the amount of allowance for lawmakers, and a moratorium on overseas visits,” President Prabowo Subianto said, without specifying which allowance he was referring to.
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The ex-general said protests should take place peacefully and if people destroyed public facilities or looted private homes “the state must step in to protect its citizens”.
“The rights to peaceful assembly should be respected and protected. But we cannot deny that there are signs of actions outside the law, even against the law, even leaning towards treason and terrorism,” Prabowo said in a speech in Jakarta.
Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin later said military and police would take “firm action” against “rioters and looters” who entered private homes or state institutions.
Their comments came after the house of Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati was looted overnight, soldiers guarding her residence and a witness told AFP on Sunday.
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Anger has spread to lawmakers and several have reportedly had their houses ransacked in recent days.
The grievances of protesters are many but rallies before the driver’s death this week focused on the revelation that lawmakers were receiving a housing allowance nearly 10 times higher than the minimum wage in Jakarta.
Rights groups said Prabowo’s speech and the olive branch from parliament did not go far enough.
“The president’s statement was insensitive to all the complaints and aspirations that the people were voicing during the demonstrations,” Amnesty International Indonesia executive director Usman Hamid said in a statement.
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“The state should respond demands from various groups of people with a series of comprehensive policy changes.”
– Major test –
Protests have spread from capital Jakarta to other major cities, including Yogyakarta, Bandung, Semarang and Surabaya in Java, and Medan in North Sumatra province.
At least three people were killed after a fire Friday started by protesters at a council building in the eastern city of Makassar.
Another victim died in Makassar on Friday after he was beaten by mob on suspicion that he was an intelligence officer, local disaster agency official Muhammad Fadli Tahar told AFP on Sunday.
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A local council building was burned on the island of Lombok on Saturday while a police headquarters in the eastern Java city of Surabaya was set on fire.
In response to the protests, social media app TikTok on Saturday temporarily suspended its live feature for “a few days” in Indonesia, where it has more than 100 million users.
Some institutions were anticipating protests to continue on Monday. One international school said its classes would take place online until Tuesday and civil servants working in Jakarta were asked to work from home.
A Jakarta police spokesperson in remarks aired by broadcaster Kompas TV said patrols would be carried out in the capital to “protect” citizens and give a sense of security.
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The protests are the biggest and most violent of Prabowo’s presidency, a key test less than a year into his rule.
He pledged an investigation into the killing of motorcycle gig driver Affan Kurniawan and promised to help his family. Seven officers in the tactical van were detained for further investigation.
Analysts said his speech could provide a “temporary calming effect” among political elites but not the wider public.
“On the ground frustrations over economic hardship and perceived government privileges remain,” said Dedi Dinarto, senior associate at public policy advisory firm Global Counsel.
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“Unless those deeper concerns are addressed, the speech alone is unlikely to fully diffuse the unrest.”
The crisis has forced Prabowo to cancel a planned trip to China next week for a military parade commemorating the end of World War II.
Prabowo has pledged fast, state-driven growth but has already faced protests against widespread government budget cuts.
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