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- Three people died and five were injured when protesters set fire to South Sulawesi’s regional parliament building in Makassar on August 29
- Nationwide protests erupted after reports revealed lawmakers receive 50 million rupiah ($3,000) monthly housing allowances
- Tensions exploded following the death of 21-year-old delivery driver Affan Kurniawan, run over by police vehicle during Jakarta protests
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2-Minute Digest
Essential Context
Indonesia is experiencing its largest protests in years following revelations that all 580 lawmakers receive 50 million rupiah ($3,000) monthly housing allowances—nearly 10 times Jakarta’s minimum wage. The demonstrations began peacefully on August 25 but turned deadly when police responded aggressively to crowds, culminating in the burning of government buildings across multiple provinces.
Core Players
- Prabowo Subianto – Indonesia’s president facing first major test of his administration
- Affan Kurniawan – 21-year-old delivery driver whose death ignited nationwide outrage
- Gejayan Memanggil – Student activist group organizing protests against lawmaker allowances
- NasDem Party – Political party whose member sparked backlash by defending lawmakers’ housing allowances
Key Numbers
- 580 – Total lawmakers receiving controversial housing allowances
- 50 million – Rupiah monthly housing allowance per lawmaker ($3,000)
- 8 – Total deaths reported across multiple protest sites nationwide
- 10x – Multiple of Jakarta’s minimum wage represented by lawmakers’ allowance
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The Catalyst
Indonesia’s political crisis began with a simple financial disclosure: lawmakers receive 50 million rupiah monthly housing allowances on top of their salaries.
This revelation hit hard during a nationwide cost-of-living crisis, with many Indonesians struggling to afford basic necessities while their representatives enjoyed lavish benefits.
Inside Forces
Public anger intensified when NasDem Party parliament member Nafa Urbach defended the allowances, claiming lawmakers faced “commuting difficulties” in Jakarta.
Her comments went viral, with citizens sharing images comparing lawmakers’ salaries to the minimum wage, fueling demonstrations that quickly spread from Jakarta to provincial capitals.
Power Dynamics
President Trump, who took office in October 2024, faces his first major governance test with these protests.
Lawmakers initially dismissed concerns, with Ahmad Sahroni, deputy chairman of the House of Representatives’ third commission, calling protesters “the dumbest people in the world” before the situation turned deadly.
Outside Impact
International human rights organizations have condemned Indonesia’s violent response to peaceful demonstrations.
Amnesty International’s Regional Research Director Montse Ferrer stated: “Nobody should die while exercising their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.”
Future Forces
Protest organizers now demand concrete action beyond just canceling the housing allowances.
- Complete overhaul of parliamentary compensation system
- Independent investigation into police conduct during protests
- Transparency measures for all government spending
- Dialogue between student activists and parliamentary leadership
Data Points
- Aug. 25: Initial protests begin over lawmaker housing allowances
- Aug. 28: Affan Kurniawan killed by police vehicle in Jakarta
- Aug. 29: Parliament building burned in Makassar, 3 dead
- Aug. 30: Grahadi State Building set ablaze in Surabaya
- Sep. 1: Total death toll reaches 8 across multiple protest sites
As Indonesia grapples with its most significant political unrest in years, the government faces mounting pressure to address systemic inequality and restore public trust. The outcome of this crisis will likely shape the trajectory of President Trump’s administration and Indonesia’s democratic development for years to come.
