Jakarta: Transport services in parts of Indonesia's capital Jakarta were disrupted on Friday after clashes and acts of vandalism followed a large protest outside parliament, with some commuter rail and bus services suspended or diverted.
The demonstrations began on Thursday, August 27, around the parliament complex in the Senayan area. Thousands of people gathered to demand stronger action against corruption and wider political and social reforms.
One of the main demands was the passage of the Asset Forfeiture Bill, which would allow the state to seize assets linked to crimes including corruption and money laundering. The legislation has been under discussion for more than a decade.
The United Pati People's Alliance, known as AMPB, led one of the main groups at the demonstration. Several hundred people travelled from Pati in Central Java to Jakarta to demand that parliament pass the bill and introduce tougher punishment for people convicted of corruption.
Representatives of AMPB met lawmakers during the protest and pressed for a firm deadline for the legislation. Parliamentary leaders committed to completing the bill by December 15, 2026.
The commitment followed demands from the protesters that lawmakers take responsibility if the bill was delayed again.
Most members of the AMPB group later left the area. Other groups of protesters, including students, workers and motorcycle taxi drivers, remained or arrived with broader concerns about jobs, living costs and government spending.
Students also criticised the government's free school meals programme. Some protesters raised concerns about alleged corruption and reports of food poisoning linked to the programme. Others called for lower food prices and expressed opposition to what they described as the growing role of the military in civilian affairs.
The main daytime demonstration was largely peaceful, but the situation became more tense later in the evening.
Some groups remained around the parliament complex after the main protest had dispersed. Clashes were reported, with objects thrown at police. Officers used water cannon and tear gas to disperse crowds.
A police post and two motorcycles were set on fire, while roads around the area were blocked. The identity of the groups involved in the later violence and their relationship to the main protest organisers remained unclear.
Jakarta police had detained 65 people as part of preventive security measures ahead of the demonstrations, according to police. Officers said the detainees were being questioned to determine their roles and whether they could face criminal charges.
Police also said they had seized sharp weapons, two airsoft guns, hundreds of glass bottles with fuses, gasoline and other materials that they suspected could be used to make Molotov cocktails. The items were seized during preventive operations carried out before the demonstration.
Authorities deployed more than 18,500 security personnel across several areas of Jakarta to maintain public order and protect key locations during the protests.
The unrest disrupted transport in the capital on Friday.
Several commuter rail services were suspended or diverted because of security concerns around the parliament area. KAI Commuter said trains travelling to and from Tanah Abang were initially held because crowds were reported along the railway tracks between Palmerah and Tanah Abang.
Bus services operated by TransJakarta were also affected by road closures near the parliament complex. Several nearby toll roads were also closed.
Some commuter services began to resume later on Friday, but restrictions remained on parts of the railway line near Tanah Abang and Palmerah as authorities assessed safety conditions.
The protests came almost one year after demonstrations in Indonesia developed into widespread unrest in August and September 2025. The earlier protests spread to Jakarta and several other cities and became a major early challenge for President Prabowo Subianto, who took office in October 2024.
The 2025 unrest began amid anger over government policies and lawmakers' benefits and intensified after a delivery rider died after being struck by a police tactical vehicle during a demonstration in Jakarta on August 28 last year.
The anniversary added significance to Thursday's protest, although the current demonstration began with more specific demands over corruption and the Asset Forfeiture Bill.
The current protests also reflect wider concerns about the direction of the government. Demonstrators have raised issues including the cost of living, employment, government spending and the implementation of major government programmes.
For now, attention is focused on restoring transport services and maintaining security around areas affected by the overnight unrest. Lawmakers' progress on the Asset Forfeiture Bill will also be closely watched after the December 15 commitment.