Why violent protests over wages and government perks are shaking Indonesia?

A severe wave of protests has swept through Indonesia in recent days, resulting in the deaths of seven people.

Observers believe the violent demonstrations are the culmination of public anger over economic hardships, the insensitivity of public officials, and the failure of President Prabowo Subianto’s administration to implement policies that support the populace.

Nikkei Asia has compiled what you need to know about the public protests in Indonesia.

What is the cause of the protests?

The demonstrations began early last week in front of the House of Representatives building in Jakarta. Protesters, including students and union members, criticized the privileges of lawmakers, such as a monthly housing allowance of 50 million rupiahs ($3,100), which is more than 10 times the national average minimum wage.

They also demanded a higher minimum wage for workers and an end to the mass layoffs that have affected numerous sectors in recent years, from textiles and footwear to technology startups and the hospitality industry.

Police intervention

On Thursday evening, police intervened with the protesters. In the ensuing clash, a motorcycle taxi driver named Affan Kurniawan was killed after being run over by a police tactical vehicle.

His death led to broader and more violent protests on Friday and Saturday, which spread to other cities including Bandung in West Java, Yogyakarta, Surabaya in East Java, Medan in North Sumatra, and Makassar in South Sulawesi.

On August 29, as nationwide protests shook Indonesia, a crowd set fire to the city hall in Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi province. Three officers died in the fire.

In Jakarta, the headquarters of the police’s Mobile Brigade Corps became a primary target for demonstrators. Police vehicles and public facilities were set on fire. Some nearby shops were looted, as were the homes of four lawmakers and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati in other parts of Jakarta.

In other cities, protesters mostly targeted police stations or local councils. In Makassar, three public officials were killed after a crowd set the city council building ablaze.

As of Sunday, seven people were reported to have been killed during the protests, including a motorcycle taxi driver in Makassar, a student in Yogyakarta, and a bicycle taxi driver in the city of Solo in Central Java.

How are the authorities responding?

Prabowo met with political party leaders and cabinet ministers in Jakarta on Sunday.

He announced that the House had agreed to revoke some of the lawmakers’ privileges and impose a moratorium on overseas business trips, which have long been criticized for wasting taxpayer money.

The president said “decisive” measures would be taken against some lawmakers who recently made controversial statements that fueled public anger.

For example, Ahmad Sahroni, a politician from the NasDem Party, defended the lawmakers’ privileges and called their critics “stupid.”

The NasDem and National Mandate Party announced on Sunday that they had each suspended two lawmakers, including Sahroni. The Golkar Party suspended one lawmaker. All three parties are part of Prabowo’s ruling coalition.

Prabowo also ordered a crackdown on those who destroyed public facilities.

“There are signs of illegal acts, even acts amounting to treason and terrorism,” he said, blaming the public.

“I have ordered the police and the military to take the harshest possible measures in accordance with the law against the destruction of public facilities and the looting of individuals’ homes and economic centers,” Prabowo said.

How are businesses responding?

As of Sunday, shops and an electronics center near the Mobile Brigade headquarters in central Jakarta remained closed. However, shopping malls and other retail centers in other parts of Jakarta operated normally, albeit with fewer visitors.

Many businesses and government offices told their employees to work from home on Monday.

Anindya N. Bakrie, Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, called for a “respectful” dialogue so that the public could express its wishes. He urged government officials and lawmakers to be more sensitive to the public’s problems, including the rising cost of living and low incomes. “Public officials must be sensitive,” he said.

Budihardjo Iduansjah, Chairman of the Indonesian Retail and Tenants Association (Hippindo), similarly called for dialogue and asked the government to ensure security at shopping malls and other public activity centers.

‘A security-focused approach will not solve the problems’

Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin told reporters on Sunday evening that the police and military would “work together” to ensure public security and would “act decisively and take measured steps against any illegal activity.”

Dominique Nicky Fahrizal, a researcher at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank in Jakarta, stated that a security-focused approach “will not solve the root causes of public discontent.”

“This approach will only further increase public dissatisfaction,” Fahrizal said.