After a week of nationwide demonstrations, crowds in Indonesia on turned their fury toward political figures, ransacking residences including the finance minister’s home near Jakarta. At least five people have been killed and hundreds injured since the protests began, which started over economic pain and intensified after a demonstrator’s death linked to police action.
Key Takeaways
- At least five people dead and hundreds injured after a week of protests across multiple cities.
- Rioters looted the South Tangerang home of Finance Minister Sri Mulyani early Sunday; she was not present, according to local reports.
- A residence linked to senior lawmaker Ahmad Sahroni (National Democratic Party) in Jakarta was stormed; videos showed luxury goods removed and a car destroyed.
- Police used tear gas in Jakarta as protesters burned cars and torched police outposts; a police headquarters in Surabaya was burned and looted.
- Unrest began over unemployment and inflation, then escalated after a motorcycle taxi driver was killed during a protest on Thursday.
- A controversial decision to grant lawmakers monthly housing allowances nearly 10 times Jakarta’s minimum wage fueled anger.
- President Prabowo Subianto canceled a planned trip to a major security conference in China and may skip the UN General Assembly.
- Authorities vowed to take “firm” legal action, stoking concern about a broader crackdown given the president’s military past.
Verified Facts
Indonesia’s worst crisis since President Prabowo Subianto took office nearly a year ago erupted into direct attacks on political figures’ property over the weekend. Demonstrations that began as daily rallies against rising prices and weak job prospects intensified sharply after a motorcycle taxi driver was killed during a protest on Thursday, triggering wider clashes.
In the early hours of Sunday, a crowd forced entry into Finance Minister Sri Mulyani’s residence in South Tangerang, carrying off valuables, according to witnesses cited by local media. She was not at home at the time. The incident was among several cases of looting reported as the unrest spread.
On Saturday, protesters stormed a house linked to Ahmad Sahroni, a senior lawmaker from the National Democratic Party (NasDem), in Jakarta. Social media videos showed a car smashed and items such as luxury bags, watches, a television, fitness equipment and even a bathtub being taken. Sahroni had previously derided calls to dissolve Parliament and later labeled some demonstrators as thugs.
Security forces in Jakarta fired tear gas as vehicles were set ablaze and police posts torched. A police headquarters in Surabaya was burned and looted on Sunday, while a government building in Makassar was set on fire on Saturday, underscoring the breadth of the unrest across major urban centers.
President Prabowo canceled plans to attend a landmark security forum in China where more than 20 global leaders convened this weekend and may also skip the UN General Assembly in September, according to presidential spokesman Prasetyo Hadi. National Police Chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo (unrelated to the president) said authorities had orders to take decisive, lawful action against anarchic acts.
Timeline of Key Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Motorcycle taxi driver killed during a protest, catalyzing broader unrest. | |
| Government building in Makassar set on fire; protesters storm lawmaker’s house in Jakarta. | |
| Homes of senior officials targeted, including Finance Minister Sri Mulyani’s; Surabaya police HQ burned and looted. |
Context & Impact
Indonesia, the world’s fourth-most-populous nation with about 284 million people, had recently been seen as one of Southeast Asia’s more stable economies. But public frustration has mounted over inflation and unemployment, compounded by perceptions that budget cuts to fund flagship programs have strained essential services.
A flashpoint has been lawmakers’ new monthly housing allowances, reported to be nearly 10 times the minimum wage in Jakarta. For many citizens, the symbolism of legislative perks amid rising living costs sharpened grievances about fairness and accountability.
Concerns about the security response are heightened by the president’s history. Prabowo, a former general, was discharged from the military in 1998 for his role in the abduction and torture of pro-democracy activists under the rule of Suharto, his father-in-law. Rights groups warn that heavy-handed tactics could inflame tensions further.
Internationally, the decision to cancel high-profile appearances — including a China security conference and potentially the UN General Assembly — signals the severity of the domestic crisis and may weigh on investor confidence and regional diplomacy if the turmoil persists.
Official Statements
Security forces will take firm action in line with the law against anarchic acts.
Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo, National Police Chief
He previously mocked calls to dissolve Parliament as “the dumbest,” later calling some protesters thugs.
Ahmad Sahroni, National Democratic Party lawmaker
The president may skip the UN General Assembly following the cancellation of his China trip.
Prasetyo Hadi, Presidential Spokesman
Unconfirmed
- Total number of homes and offices targeted nationwide remains unclear.
- Comprehensive arrest figures and the full injury count have not been released.
- Complete inventories of items taken from looted properties are not verified.
- Exact sequence of police use of force at each protest site is still being corroborated.
Bottom Line
Indonesia’s protests have evolved from economic grievances into a broader repudiation of political privilege and police conduct, with direct attacks on officials’ homes marking a dangerous turn. The government’s next steps — especially the balance between restraint and enforcement — will determine whether the crisis cools or deepens.