Jakarta is burning. So are Makassar, Bandung, Surabaya, Mataram, and other cities throughout Indonesia. Discontent that started as outrage over the lavish perks of lawmakers evolved swiftly into a searing indictment of police brutality, elite privilege, economic precarity, wealth disparities, and democratic erosion.
The horrific death of a young man named Affan Kurniawan at the hands of the police pushed Indonesia over the edge. At the moment, it is unclear how far things will fall. But even Indonesia’s authoritarian president, Prabowo Subianto, is making concessions to the massive outburst of social anger.
As the fourth-largest nation in the world and (at least for now) the world’s third-largest democracy, Indonesia has grappled with the legacies of authoritarianism and free-market discipline since the people power revolt that overthrew Suharto’s dictatorial New Order.
Even Indonesia’s authoritarian president, Prabowo, is making concessions to the massive outburst of social anger.
Over the past week, diverse acts of dissent, long simmering beneath the surface, coalesced into violent mass actions across the archipelago. With unprecedented ferocity and velocity, thanks to social media, thousands upon thousands of disillusioned citizens erupted in defiance.
Tension have been building through 2025. In February, a series of student demonstrations across Indonesia challenged Prabowo. Organized under the hashtag #IndonesiaGelap or #DarkIndonesia, the protesters opposed a range of policies, including massive budget cuts, the role of the military in…
Auteur: Michael G. Vann
