At the end of August 2025, millions of Indonesians – led by defiant Gen Z students, drivers and workers – erupted in the streets demanding justice. What sparked their fury was a scandalous “housing allowance” of 50 million rupiah per month (over $3,000) bestowed on each MP – nearly ten times Jakarta’s minimum wage – even as families struggle. Clashes turned deadly as police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse peaceful demonstrators. A viral video of a security vehicle brutally running over 21-year‑old motorcycle‑taxi driver Affan Kurniawan confirmed the worst fears – the state was willing to let its own citizens die. As one student protests, “It’s heartbreaking… many people still earn less than 50,000 rupiah a day."
Under blackened skies of tear gas, young protesters in Jakarta relentlessly press forward against riot police. They chant “Bubarkan DPR!” (“Disband Parliament!”) and wave the pirate “One Piece” flag of resistance, symbols of public outrage. In defiance of President Prabowo’s threats and NasDem lawmaker Ahmad Sahroni’s taunts (he called critics “the stupidest people in the world”), these marchers refuse to be silenced. The movement even trended on social media: #IndonesiaGelap (Dark Indonesia) and #KaburAjaDulu (“Just get out first”) filled Twitter and TikTok feeds, as teens shared tips to “escape this mess” or joked that Indonesia’s future is on fire. TikTok briefly suspended its live streams nationwide amid the unrest – evidence that youth online were driving the uprising, documenting clashes in real time.
The protesters’ voice is clear and urgent: enough is enough. They delivered the “17+8 People’s Demands” – 17 short‐term and 8 long‐term policy changes covering everything from police reform to education and climate action – in a viral Instagram manifesto. Key demands include revoking the bloated allowances for MPs, transparent budgets for public services, and genuine police accountability. One demand calls for a Confiscation of Assets Act to seize ill‑gotten gains from corrupt officials. Others demand the resignation of the national police chief and full reform of the Brutal Mobile Brigade (Brimob) that crushed the taxi driver. These are no longer fringe slogans; large-scale sit-ins and candlelight vigils across Jakarta, Surabaya and Makassar have galvanized the nation. Even after President Prabowo scrapped his China trip and promised to repeal the perks, students publicly called off demonstrations only because the streets were too dangerous – not because the struggle is over. “The protests may pause,” one leader warned, “but the anger will not die.”
Despite official spin – ministers claim summoning tech companies to censor “disinformation” – the people know the truth: this fight is about power and inequality. Indonesians living in poverty and under climate stress see their leaders lining their pockets while ordinary lives grow harder. As outrage spilled onto social media, artists and influencers added fuel with sharp memes. (A popular graphic showed the speaker of parliament dancing in a lavish villa, a brutal satire of real events.) The ruling regime’s response has been to double down on old tactics – militarizing social media, shutting down livestreams, and branding dissenters as “paid agitators.” Even Amnesty International notes Jakarta’s pattern: “the government seems more interested in full control of the narrative… than addressing the real concerns that people have." Lawmakers have passed a law quietly expanding military influence in civilian government – a move straight from the old authoritarian playbook. In effect, the state is telling its youth: “Protesting may get you arrested, killed, or erased from online platforms.”
We stand with Indonesia’s youth. This is not just an Indonesian struggle – it is a global youth rebellion against entrenched oligarchs. From Hong Kong to Chile, young people face the same message: “Your voices will not sway our privileges.” Here in Indonesia, tens of thousands are already calling on international allies to speak out. One trending tweet urged: “If we get killed in the streets, the world should at least know our names, our faces, our demands.” The People’s Rights Organization supports that demand. Our movement calls for:
Abolition of the luxury allowances and perks for officials and transparent budgets that prioritize education, health and the climate.
Justice for Affan Kurniawan and all victims of state violence – full public investigations, police reform, and accountability for officers who beat or run down protesters.
Protection of free expression and assembly: Restore TikTok/Instagram livestreaming, drop charges against demonstrators, and rescind new censorship orders.
Defund the militarization of civilian life, not public services – end proposals that give generals seats in parliament and drain resources away from people.
Every page of history shows that corrupt regimes can be forced to backtrack. Already, President Prabowo has hinted at reversing the perks and even publicly apologized for the victim’s death.
But talk is cheap; sustained pressure and solidarity are needed to turn these promises into reality. As PRO, we call on youth around the world to amplify this struggle: share translations of #IndonesiaGelap content, film solidarity actions, and demand your own governments push for human rights in Indonesia. This movement shows that when Gen Z refuses to accept injustice, even mighty tyrants tremble. #DarkIndonesia #JusticeForAffan
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