About 300 members of the Indonesian Women’s Alliance (API) gathered outside parliament in Jakarta, demanding an end to state violence and the withdrawal of the military from civilian security duties.
This rally comes after a week of unrest that has resulted in at least 10 deaths, sparked by the killing of a motorcycle taxi driver who was run over by an armored police vehicle driven near crowds in Jakarta on August 28.
The API leaders called on President Prabowo Subianto to halt the use of the military and police against civilians and to withdraw soldiers from security operations.
“Nobody should die while exercising their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” said Montse Ferrer, Amnesty International’s deputy regional research director, condemning the crackdown. The group also demanded the resignation of National Police Chief Listyo Sigit and the release of all detainees held without charge.
The protests, which began over lawmakers’ lavish perks, have escalated into nationwide demonstrations against low wages, rising taxes, and lawmakers’ pay. President Prabowo Subianto has been forced to backtrack on plans to increase benefits for members of parliament.
However, his administration’s response has been criticized for being militaristic and repressive.
Amnesty International has expressed alarm over the increasing number of deaths from the government crackdown.
The alliance denounced the criminalization of dissent, urging authorities to stop targeting citizens, activists, journalists, and legal aid workers and to free all those detained. They also called for an end to the military’s role in civilian affairs.
Protesters are urging the government to address 17 urgent issues within a week, including forming a team to investigate the killing of Affan Kurniawan, ending military involvement in civilian security, releasing detained demonstrators, prosecuting officers responsible for violence, and halting police brutality.
The government has responded with force, deploying military personnel and police to key locations.
President Prabowo Subianto has appealed for peace and promised a full investigation into Kurniawan’s death. However, critics argue that his administration is not addressing the root causes of the protests and is instead focusing on a crackdown.