JAKARTA, Indonesia — Around 1,500 Indonesian students took to the streets of the nation’s capital on Friday, calling on President Prabowo Subianto to reduce expensive government programs while demanding relief from rising fuel and food costs amid growing economic challenges.
Following Friday prayers, demonstrators attempted to reach the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, a prominent city landmark, but authorities intercepted many participants and barricaded routes to the presidential palace, a common destination for protests. Over 6,000 police officers and military personnel were stationed in the area.
Many demonstrators donned yellow university jackets as they expressed anger over increasing living expenses, which have climbed due to elevated fuel costs following the U.S. war against Iran. Indonesia’s rupiah has faced significant pressure, reaching a record low of 18,000 rupiah per U.S. dollar earlier this month.
The demonstrators presented five primary demands, including reductions in what they termed unnecessary government expenditures, decreased prices for fuel and essential goods, and suspension of major government initiatives like a free nutritious meal program and rural revitalization efforts.
The complimentary meals initiative, with a price tag of approximately 268 trillion rupiah ($15 billion) for this year, aims to combat poverty and malnutrition, though Prabowo recently dismissed the program’s leader during a major corruption investigation.
Students also demanded an end to what they characterized as the military’s expanding influence in civilian governance, which they consider a danger to the nation’s developing democracy.
“The government is in denial about the current situation,” said Yatalathof Ma’shum Imawan, who chairs the student organization that organized the rally. “We urge Prabowo to have the courage to acknowledge his mistake and stop denying it.”
Friday’s protest represents one of the most significant student mobilizations since widespread demonstrations broke out last August, when thousands gathered in the streets and confrontations with security personnel resulted in at least 13 fatalities.
Comparable demonstrations also occurred in Bandung city in West Java and in Pontianak, located on Borneo island.
