President reduces benefits for legislators in an attempt to pacify ongoing demonstrations in Indonesia

Indonesia Protests: President Prabowo Addresses Unrest Amidst Violence and Destruction

Indonesia, Southeast Asia's largest economy, has been gripped by protests in major cities in recent days. The demonstrations, which started as a reaction to lucrative perks for lawmakers, have escalated into the biggest and most violent of President Prabowo Subianto's presidency.

The main grievance of the protesters is the revelation that lawmakers are receiving a housing allowance nearly 10 times higher than the minimum wage in Jakarta. This disclosure, coupled with widespread government budget cuts, has sparked anger among the citizens.

The protests were ignited by footage of a motorcycle taxi driver being run over by a police vehicle at a rally against these lawmakers' perks. This tragic incident led to the death of Affan Kurniawan, a motorcycle gig driver, and has prompted President Prabowo to pledge an investigation into the incident.

In response to the unrest, Prabowo has announced that parliament would revoke several policies, including a policy regarding lawmakers' allowances, and a moratorium on overseas visits. He has also cancelled a planned trip to China next week for a military parade commemorating the end of World War II.

However, the violence has continued, with at least three people killed after a fire started by protesters at a council building in the eastern city of Makassar. Another victim died in Makassar on Friday. A local council building was burned on the island of Lombok, and a police headquarters in the eastern Java city of Surabaya was set on fire.

The Defense Minister, Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, has promised firm action against "rioters and looters" who enter private homes or state institutions. Seven officers in a tactical van were detained for further investigation in connection with the violence.

The Finance Minister's house was looted overnight, according to a witness, but the name of the Minister is not mentioned in the provided search results. Civil servants working in Jakarta have been asked to work from home for safety reasons.

In an attempt to quell the unrest, Prabowo called for peaceful protests and threatened action against those who destroy public facilities or loot private homes. He also announced that he would address the nation to speak about the current situation and the steps being taken to address the protesters' concerns.

Dedi Dinarto, a senior associate at public policy advisory firm Global Counsel, stated that the speech could provide a "temporary calming effect" among political elites but not the wider public. Unless those deeper concerns, such as economic hardship and perceived government privileges, are addressed, the speech alone is unlikely to fully diffuse the unrest, according to Dinarto.

The protests have spread to several major cities in Java and North Sumatra provinces, including Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Bandung, Semarang, Surabaya, and Medan. One international school will hold classes online until Tuesday due to the ongoing protests.

In an effort to maintain order, Jakarta police will carry out patrols to "protect" citizens and give a sense of security. TikTok temporarily suspended its live feature in Indonesia for a few days as a precautionary measure.

As the situation continues to develop, it is clear that the Indonesian government faces a significant challenge in addressing the deep-seated frustrations of its citizens and restoring peace and stability to the nation.

President reduces benefits for legislators in an attempt to pacify ongoing demonstrations in Indonesia