US EditionRiot police clash with students protesting lawmakers’ allowances in Indonesia
Protesters oppose a new 50 million rupiah monthly housing allowance for 580 MPs, nearly 20 times the minimum wage in poor areas, amid ongoing economic austerity and corruption concerns.
- On Monday , hundreds of protesters rallied in Senayan, Jakarta against new MPs' allowances, while riot police used tear gas and water cannon to repel those trying to breach the House of Representatives.
- The protests were sparked after reports showed 580 members of the House of Representatives received a housing allowance of 50 million rupiah per month since September 2024, announced by Adies Kadir days after President Prabowo Subianto's budget speech earlier this month.
- The scale of the perks underlined the protesters' grievance, with Transparency advocacy group Fitra noting MPs can earn up to 230 million rupiah monthly, housing benefits about 20 times minimum wages, and rice and fuel allowances rising.
- More than 1,200 security personnel were deployed as authorities blocked streets leading to the parliament building and suspended train and bus services, disrupting commuters in Jakarta.
- Demonstrators framed their anger within broader corruption concerns, citing protest slogans against 'corrupt elites' and policies favoring conglomerates and the military amid earlier 'Dark Indonesia' protests and Prabowo's 2025 budget claims of 300 trillion rupiah saved.
43 Articles
43 Articles
Indonesian student protesters are angered by the government's expansion of the military's power amid a sluggish economy, citing a 50 million rupiah (approximately 100,000 baht) monthly housing allowance for MPs.
Indonesian police clash with protesters over parliamentarians' salaries
JAKARTA: Police fired tear gas and used a water cannon to push back hundreds of demonstrators trying to break into Indonesia’s parliament building on Monday to protest against what they called excessive pay and perks for legislators, witnesses said.
Indonesian police clash with protesters against parliamentarians’
JAKARTA: Police fired tear gas and used a water cannon to push back hundreds of demonstrators trying to break into Indonesia’s parliament building on Monday to protest against what they called excessive pay and perks for legislators, witnesses said. Some protesters, clad in dark clothing, threw rocks and set off fireworks at riot police in the capital Jakarta. At least one
They demand the dissolution of Parliament, the non-commercialization of education, progress in social and economic reforms, and that policies not only benefit the elites.
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