Youth voices in Jakarta’s protests

Young people—students, activists, and workers— were the main driving force behind the protest actions in Jakarta in late August and early September.

Protests erupted over large housing allowances for Indonesian parliament members that were valued at almost ten times the minimum wage. While Jakarta residents face rising costs, stagnant wages, and limited affordable housing, their representatives enjoy excessive perks. Many see these allowances as emblematic of systemic corruption and inequality, especially amid rising tuition fees, unemployment, and uncertain futures.

The excessive allowances reveal a lack of empathy among those elected to serve the public. For many Indonesians, the housing allowances highlight widespread misuse of public funds. The protest wave, therefore, clearly conveys a call for greater transparency, accountability, and fairness.

The protests were intended to be peaceful but turned violent after a viral video showed a police vehicle killing 21-year-old motorcycle-taxi driver Affan Kurniawan. The incident sparked nationwide protests, including in Surabaya and Makassar, that were met by police firing tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets. At least ten people died, hundreds injured, and over 3,000 detained.

Despite the regrettable violence, the protests served to shine a spotlight on popular grievances. In a system where parliamentary privileges go unchecked, protests are among the few ways the public can pressure leaders to acknowledge their discontent and address their demands.

Demonstrations provide a democratic way to hold officials accountable, reminding policymakers that their authority comes from the people and they must be transparent and fair. The latest protests, which started on 25 August and continued for several days, highlighted the widening gap between the government-business elites and ordinary citizens and the perception that public welfare was declining while the rich, politicians, bureaucrats and police were caught making ostentatious displays of often unaccounted for wealth.

In what has been equated with the birth of reformasi in 1997-98, the protests to grip Indonesia in late August encapsulate what could be the defining challenge for Prabowo’s presidency. Unless Prabowo responds quickly and forcefully did the demands of the youth—and by extension the mass of the population—he risks a cycle of unrest that will hinder the effectiveness of his rule perhaps tarnish his legacy.

Youth participation in protests reflects both frustration and a strong sense of moral duty to defend the principles of fairness and democracy, showing that they are unwilling to stay silent in the face of elitism and misuse of public funds. Through creative expression—such as banners, chants, and viral social media campaigns—young Indonesians transformed the protests into a powerful grassroots movement, demonstrating that their collective energy and idealism can grab the government’s attention and shape the political and policy agenda.

Their participation in the protests in Jakarta and other cities across the archipelago during August and September reflected widespread discontent that has been bubbling away since the previous administration’s Omnibus Job Creation Bill that eroded workers’ entitlements. Youth, alongside unionists, formed the core of the movement then that forced several amendments.

This time was not dissimilar—many young people took to the streets because inequality has become ever more blatant and unashamed.

It is a sentiment that is as visceral as it is non-political. The protestors, unlike 1997-98, do not look to an opposition ‘saviour’. There is none. Most have been either co-opted by the system or sit on the periphery of power. Rather, protestors want tangible change to policy and conduct. This might not necessarily be a liability for Prabowo if he can demonstrate that he can put a brake on privilege, roll back excesses and deliver real redistribution.

The multiple hierarchies and independent organisation in campuses, communities, and social media showed the young protestors were driven by moral conviction and a desire for tangible reform, reflecting an authentic grassroots response, rather than a partisan political cause.

Amid protests in Jakarta, suspicions grew that local elites and foreign powers might have influenced or manipulated the movement to exploit public anger. Critics argued that the rally's size, organisation, and persistence indicated support beyond grassroots mobilisation, suggesting that rival politicians may have used the unrest to undermine the government’s legitimacy.

Rumours circulate about external actors encouraging dissent to destabilise Indonesia’s political and economic stability because of its growing regional and global influence. Although no proof has been provided, these stories reveal deep mistrust in Indonesia’s political scene, where mass protests are seen not just as civic resistance but also as potential tools of elite rivalry and geopolitical strategy.

Efforts to politicise—even criminalise—the recent protests and to blame foreign powers appear to be avoiding responsibility for addressing the real issue. This is a cynical means of attacking the credibility of the protesters and delegitimising their demands. If it succeeds, Indonesia will be the loser because ignoring valid dissent will fuel popular discontent.

Already, many Indonesian youths view the government’s response as a deep betrayal, especially of promises to combat corruption and uphold social justice. They expect greater transparency, accountability, and fairness that cannot be delivered overnight.

Instead of embracing the sincerity of protest demands, Prabowo—a child of the elite— initially seemed to side with old political interests, prioritising stability and loyalty over reform.

Indeed, the recent protest actions in Jakarta mark a recrudescence of the ‘spirit of reformasi’. Some analysts suggest that since the fall of Suharto in 1998, the student movement has lost focus and energy.

Still, the potential for revival is there. The recent protests could lay the foundation for a more focused organisation on a scale not seen since 1998. They want an Indonesia where prosperity is accessible and inclusive, not dependent on who one’s parents are. The key will be whether they can maintain the pressure for change.

One thing is clear from the recent protests: Indonesian youth are demanding to be heard, and those in power must not muffle their voices.

Justin Wejak is a lecturer with the Asia Institute at the University of Melbourne.

Image: abdlh syamil / Shutterstock.com