Jakarta: Thousands of Indonesian students took to the streets of Jakarta on Thursday, staging a dramatic protest outside the national parliament as they pressed for direct talks with government leaders. The demonstration comes against the backdrop of intensifying unrest, with at least 10 people dead and more than a thousand injured in recent clashes linked to police crackdowns and street violence.
The protests were triggered by a fatal incident in which a police vehicle struck and killed a motorcycle taxi driver an event that has since become a lightning rod for anger against alleged state brutality. Demonstrators argue that the government’s response has been heavy-handed and dismissive of public grievances, fueling a wider wave of discontent over corruption, inequality, and political privilege.
Student groups under the alliance BEM SI, a long-standing federation of university activists, led the rally with chants demanding accountability and reform. They called for an independent investigation into the use of force by security services and urged lawmakers to facilitate an open meeting with government officials. According to student leaders, while initial conversations with parliament members have begun, no concrete commitment for dialogue has been secured.
The protest movement has been reinforced by trade unions and rights organizations, including the labor coalition Gebrak, which has announced parallel demonstrations calling for the release of detained activists. Human rights groups say more than 3,000 people have been arrested in recent weeks, accusing authorities of criminalizing dissent under the guise of maintaining order.
President Prabowo Subianto has so far struck a hardline tone, describing the unrest not as peaceful protest but as evidence of “terrorism” and “betrayal.” His comments have raised fears of an even more forceful crackdown, with security forces already deployed heavily around the capital.
Beyond Jakarta, the protests have spread across several Indonesian cities, revealing a groundswell of frustration among ordinary citizens. Anger over lavish allowances for lawmakers, coupled with economic strain, has transformed what began as a localized outcry into a broader political crisis. For many Indonesians, the ongoing turmoil has become a test of the government’s willingness to listen or its determination to silence opposition through force.
Observers warn that the coming days will be critical. If dialogue does not materialize, students and their allies vow to escalate demonstrations, while the government appears equally determined to assert control. The outcome could mark a turning point for Indonesia’s fragile democratic institutions at a time of mounting public distrust.