The move was announced by Prabowo’s spokesperson on Saturday following reports of at least three fatalities in a fire at a parliament building in Makassar, the South Sulawesi province capital, the day before. This incident is linked to the ongoing protests.
The protests represent a significant challenge to Prabowo’s government, which has been in power for almost a year. They started in Jakarta on Monday over lawmakers’ salaries and intensified following the death of a motorcycle rider hit by a police vehicle.
Presidential spokesperson Prasetyo Hadi stated that Prabowo will continue to monitor the situation closely and apologized to China for not attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit and a “Victory Day” parade to commemorate the end of World War II.
The protests, initially sparked by the revelation that all 580 lawmakers receive a housing allowance of 50 million rupiah ($3,075) in addition to their salaries, have grown more violent and widespread. Critics argue that the allowance is not only excessive but also insensitive given the current economic challenges faced by the public.
A pivotal moment came with the death of a 21-year-old ride-hailing driver, Affan Kurniawan, which led to public outrage and calls for action against the security forces. Prabowo, a former army general, has urged calm and condolences for the driver’s death while calling on the military and police to restore order.
Protests have expanded to other regions, including West Nusa Tenggara, Central Java, and West Java, with reports of looting and clashes with the authorities. The Indonesian government has also increased its scrutiny of social media platforms, including TikTok, to curb the spread of misinformation.
TikTok, owned by ByteDance, announced the suspension of its live feature in Indonesia due to the increasing violence, aiming to maintain a safe and civil environment on the platform. It is a significant decision, considering Indonesia has one of the largest TikTok user bases worldwide.
Amnesty International Indonesia’s deputy director, Wirya Adiwena, criticized the government for seemingly prioritizing control over addressing the people’s concerns, suggesting a return to old, restrictive practices.
