Protests persist, forcing Indonesia's president to call off his scheduled trip to China
Indonesia Faces Unrest as President Prabowo Cancels China Visit
Indonesia is currently grappling with nationwide protests, prompting President Joko Widodo's successor, Prabowo Subianto, to cancel his planned visit to China on September 3. The unrest, which began over lawmakers' allowances in Jakarta, has escalated into a major challenge to Prabowo's year-old administration.
The protests have taken a turn for the worse, with several regional parliament buildings set on fire in West Nusa Tenggara, Pekalongan in Central Java, and Cirebon in West Java. The fires have resulted in three confirmed fatalities, including an arson attack on the local assembly building in Makassar, South Sulawesi, according to the national disaster agency. Another fatality was reported by local media but could not be independently confirmed.
In addition, two others were injured after leaping from the burning structure in Makassar, while tensions escalated after a police vehicle fatally struck a motorcyclist. The incident has further fuelled anger, with authorities warning that disinformation circulating online has contributed to the escalation of the unrest.
In response to the unrest, Prabowo has decided to remain in Indonesia to monitor the situation and seek solutions. He had earlier been scheduled to attend a "Victory Day" parade in Beijing, marking the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War Two. If Prabowo could not attend, his designated deputy or a high-ranking Indonesian diplomat would have attended in his place.
Meanwhile, demonstrators have looted the home of NasDem party lawmaker Ahmad Sahroni in Jakarta, seizing furniture and other possessions. Sahroni, who has been accused of dismissing calls to dissolve parliament, had earlier labelled his critics "the stupidest people in the world." Prabowo has apologised to Beijing and is reportedly considering his upcoming participation at the United Nations General Assembly.
In an effort to curb the spread of disinformation, the government has summoned social media companies, including Meta and ByteDance, to strengthen moderation. TikTok has also suspended its live-streaming feature in Indonesia for several days. The unrest has even reached Bali, with police deploying teargas to control the situation.
As Indonesia navigates through these challenging times, the government and citizens alike are working towards finding a peaceful resolution to the ongoing protests.
