🖤 RIP Indonesia’s Democracy 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩'𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙖? Why are people protesting?

Manushya Foundation
6 hours ago
1 min read

In mid-August 2025, President Prabowo announced strict austerity measures to cut the budget deficit.

But just days later, parliament unveiled new lavish perks for MPs:

⚫ Rp 50 million/month (USD 3,100) housing stipends

⚫ Higher rice & fuel allowances

➡ Even though MPs already make up to 230 million rupiah per month — 10x Jakarta’s minimum wage.

The hypocrisy sparked outrage across Indonesia. Hashtags like #𝙗𝙪𝙗𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙖𝙣𝘿𝙋𝙍 (“disband parliament”) went viral, as people demanded that public funds go to teachers, jobs, and basic relief — not lawmakers’ pockets.

📢 From 25–28 August, thousands of students and civil society groups protested outside parliament in Jakarta and across the country.

⚫ Police responded with expired tear gas, water cannons & mass arrests.

⚫ Many of those detained were minors, beaten, abducted, and denied legal aid.

💔 On 28 August, an ojol (motorcycle taxi) driver, 𝗔𝗳𝗳𝗮𝗻 𝗞𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗻, was killed after being struck and dragged beneath a police armored vehicle. Affan was only 21 years old.

⚫ On 29 August 2025, Affan was laid to rest. His funeral has become a symbol of both grief and resistance.

✊🏽 We join the people of Indonesia in their demands:

1️⃣ End police brutality and Defund the police.

2️⃣ Hold authorities fully accountable for human rights violations.

3️⃣ Protect freedom of expression, and the

Right to Protest.

4️⃣ Revoke the irresponsible allowance policy immediately.

5️⃣ Ensure parliament serves the people — not its elites.

✊🏽As decolonial intersectional feminists, we at Manushya Foundation stand in solidarity with Indonesia’s brave protesters.

🕊️ The world must not look away. Spread their voices.

#RIPIndonesiasDemocracy #bubarkanDPR #ReformasiPOLRI #PeringatanDarurat #JusticeForAffan #ReformasiDikorupsi #DemocracyUnderAttack #StopPoliceBrutality