Indonesian students protest government policies as economic pressures grow
Students demanded cuts to wasteful spending and a halt to Prabowo’s free meals program, which costs about 268 trillion rupiah this year, organizers said.
- On Friday, June 12, 2026, hundreds of students rallied in Jakarta near the landmark Plaza Indonesia traffic circle, prompting authorities to deploy 4,151 security personnel to manage the demonstration demanding lower fuel and food prices.
- Economic pressures fueled the unrest as Indonesia's rupiah hit a historic low of 18,000 to the U.S. dollar earlier this month, driving students to demand government action on rising living costs and central bank autonomy.
- Protesters outlined five key demands, including a call to "stop wasting" the state budget and an end to President Prabowo Subianto's 268 trillion rupiah free meals program, which recently faced a graft probe.
- Authorities blocked streets leading to the State Palace and halted many student buses, while major civil society and labour groups indicated earlier this week they would not participate in the demonstration.
- Friday's demonstration marks one of the largest student mobilizations since nationwide protests last August, when clashes left at least 13 people dead, as similar rallies occurred in Bandung and Pontianak.
47 Articles
47 Articles
Indonesian Students Rally Against President Over Rising Costs And Militarization Concerns
by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent JAKARTA (Worthy News) – Thousands of Indonesian students rallied in Jakarta on Friday to protest President Prabowo Subianto’s spending priorities and what critics describe as the growing militarization of civilian life amid mounting economic hardship and rising fuel prices, witnesses told Worthy News. Footage recorded by a Christian doctor and shared with Worthy News showed students…
More than 1,500 Indonesian students marched to protest President Prabowo Subianto's government, demanding a reduction in oil prices, food and the cancellation of a state program seen as wasteful amid clashes with police officers.
Indonesian Students Protest Against State Spending And Fuel Price Hike
How much frustration does it take to push hundreds of students onto the streets? In Indonesia’s capital on Friday, many young people said they had reached their limit.Students gathered in Jakarta to protest policies they believe are steering the country toward financial trouble. Their main targets were President Prabowo Subianto’s costly free meals programme. A recent fuel price hike that many fear will squeeze household budgets even further.Mar…
Indonesian students decry ‘wasteful’ state spending
JAKARTA - Hundreds of Indonesian students rallied in Jakarta on Friday to protest against the spending priorities of President Prabowo Subianto’s government, and to oppose this week’s decision to raise petrol prices.
In the face of the wave of securities sales and the coin falling to historical lows on the dollar, Prabowo's supporters on social networks respond with the hashtag #buyIndonesia and the finger pointed against Singapore. But also students are in the streets against the increase in fuel prices and subsidies cuts, aggravated by the expensive program of free meals in schools wanted by the president.
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