Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Many foreign nationals have shown support for Indonesian online motorcycle taxi (ojol) drivers amidst the recent week-long protests. This phenomenon was captured in a post by user X @sighyam on Saturday, August 30, 2025.

Hanin Marwah, Jakarta – Amnesty International regrets the instruction from Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to law enforcement officers to take firm action against what is considered anarchic masses in demonstrations.

Hanin Marwah, Jakarta – Amnesty International criticized Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's statement mentioning efforts to take legal action against subversion and terrorism in the recent week-long unrest following demonstrations. Prabowo made this statement accompanied by the leaders of political parties in a press conference at the palace on Sunday, August 31, 2025.

Antara, Jakarta – Two leaders of prominent Indonesian universities have urged the public to remain calm and exercise restraint in responding to the current political situation marked by demonstrations.

The Rector of the University of Indonesia (UI), Heri Hermansyah, said that the public should express their aspirations while preventing anarchic acts.

On 28th and 29th August 2025, tens of thousands of Indonesian workers protested across provinces and sub districts such as Manokwari, Semarang, Solo, Magelang, Medan, Bengkulu, and Tegal with the epicenter of protest in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) in Jakarta.

Elviza Diana, Bengkulu, Indonesia – Yesi held her daughter Helda tightly, but the little one still shivered for days in the tropical heat over Teluk Sepang, a bay on Sumatra's west coast.

"Her cough hasn't stopped for 10 days now," Yesi told Mongabay Indonesia. "I feel so sorry for her."

The Indonesian Civil Society Coalition wishes to convey several things:

Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition and the Indonesian Academic Alliance of Concern have responded to a speech by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto regarding the situation that has triggered large demonstrations in a number of regions since last week.

Andrew Tito, Jakarta – Indonesian police said Monday that the security situation in Jakarta and other regions has returned to "conducive" levels after a week of violent demonstrations, as joint patrols by police, soldiers, and community groups were rolled out to prevent further unrest.

Ricki Putra Harahap, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto vowed Monday that he "will not retreat even a step" in confronting rioters responsible for violent unrest across Jakarta and several provinces over the past week, while insisting that legitimate demonstrators should not be blamed for the chaos.

Basten Gokkon – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has set up a new authority to build a massive seawall along the north coast of Java, a project aimed at shielding millions of residents from flooding and sinking land, but observers reject it as a true solution while highlighting risks, elite bias and lack of consultation.

Jakarta – Unlike other types of corruption, corruption in the hajj pilgrimage management involves two wrongdoings in one. Firstly, it harms the state and millions of prospective pilgrims. Secondly, it manipulates the earnest desire of the faithful planning to undertake their obligations according to the fifth pillar of Islam.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has declared the arson attack on the South Sulawesi Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) building, which resulted in the deaths of four civil servants, an act of treason.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto stated that while the right to protest is guaranteed by law, demonstrations must follow strict rules, including obtaining a permit and concluding by 6:00 p.m.

Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – Prominent content creator Jerome Polin Sijabat, in collaboration with various civil society groups, is pressuring the government to address public grievances stemming from recent nationwide protests.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has acknowledged that police officers sometimes make mistakes while enforcing the law, which can lead to casualties during demonstrations.

Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – Indonesia's armed forces have dismissed rumors that the government is preparing to impose martial law following violent demonstrations in Jakarta and several other regions.

Deputy Armed Forces Commander Gen. Tandyo Budi Revita on Monday stressed that the speculation was "completely false" and ran counter to the military's constitutional role.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia's palm oil exports saw another double-digit increase as of July as shipments of this agricultural commodity – both in crude and processed – hit the $14 billion mark in value.

Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Last week's protest in Jakarta resulted in infrastructure damage. The total loss exceeded Rp55 billion. Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung Wibowo stated that several damaged infrastructures, including shelters, toll gates, and closed-circuit television (CCTV).

Michael H. Hadylaya, Jakarta – In The Hunger Games, the Capitol glitters while the districts starve. The elites feast, dress extravagantly and stage parades as if hunger were a distant rumor. That was fiction, but in Indonesia today, the parallels feel striking.

Miriam Bahagijo, New York – The seats were almost full as the lights dimmed and an audio speaker transmitted the decades-old announcement of voice actress Marie Oentoe Tinangon, familiar to most Indonesian moviegoers: "The door to Theater 1 is open."

Rebecca Ratcliffe – Indonesian political parties have agreed to cut some lawmakers' perks, including a controversial $3,000 housing allowance, the president said, as security measures were stepped up in an attempt to halt protests that have gripped the country for a week.

Jakarta – Indonesia is living through one of its most volatile moments since the democratic transition of 1998. What began as scattered unrest has now spilled across cities, fueled by deep economic frustration, perceived elite impunity and a rising sense that the political class has grown deaf to the people's plight.

Agencies, Jakarta – Students and civil society groups called off protests on Monday after a week of escalating anger over lawmakers' pay and the police response, citing fears of heightened security measures after deadly riots over the weekend.

Jakarta – Lawmakers at the House of Representatives returned to work on Monday with members of key commissions kicking off fresh rounds of deliberations on crucial legislation.

Members of Commission I overseeing defense and foreign affairs on Monday resumed their session to discuss details of the 2026 state budget with the leadership of the Indonesian Military (TNI).

Stefanno Sulaiman and Gayatri Suroyo, Jakarta – Indonesian political parties have agreed to revoke a number of perks and privileges for parliamentarians, President Prabowo Subianto said on Sunday, in a bid to calm anti-government protests that have left five people dead and caused the worst violence in decades in Southeast Asia's largest economy.

Mita Amalia Hapsari, Muhammad Aulia Rahman, Jakarta – Police in the Indonesian capital have arrested more than 1,200 people following a week of violent protests marked by looting and vandalism, Jakarta Police Chief Inspector General Asep Edi Suheri said on Monday.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – Indonesia announced Monday that it had extended its surplus streak for the 63rd month following a $4.17 billion positive trade balance in July.

Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – Indonesia recorded deflation of 0.08 percent in August 2025 on a month-to-month basis, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS). The figure is deeper than the 0.03 percent deflation seen in August last year.

Yovanda Noni, Antara, Samarinda – Twenty-two students from Mulawarman University, East Kalimantan, were caught making dozens of Molotov cocktails that were allegedly intended for use in a protest scheduled for Monday.

Indonesia is weighing the acquisition of Italy's decommissioned aircraft carrier as part of Jakarta's push toward a blue-water navy.

Newsweek contacted the Indonesian Ministry of Defense and the Italian Embassy for comment via email.

Why it matters

West Papuan civil society and solidarity networks are calling for urgent action over a brutal Indonesian security forces crackdown that has led to a wave of arrests and political repression.

Protests erupted in Sorong, in the western part of the Melanesian territory, on Wednesday over the transfer of 4 political prisoners out of the territory.

Rama Sukarta, Muhammad Ghafur Fadillah, Jakarta – Indonesia's economy remains fundamentally strong despite a week of nationwide protests and violent unrest, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said on Monday.

Sukarjito, Heru Andriyanto, Jakarta – Indonesia has suspended five lawmakers whose controversial remarks about parliamentary perks and displays of privilege inflamed public anger, triggering violent protests that swept across the country.

Indonesia is in chaos, as massive protests have erupted over corruption, economic hardship, and police brutality. I call on all my people to get ready for another escalation back home. West Papua is ready to depart from this dying empire.

Mohammad Muajijin, Kediri, East Java – The Regent of Kediri, Hanindhito Himawan Pramana, has called on looters to return cultural artifacts stolen during violent demonstrations on Saturday that left government offices burned and the Bagawanta Bhari Museum ransacked.

Jakarta – Indonesia has made digital declarations mandatory for all international travelers beginning September 1, 2025, through the government's new All Indonesia app.

Antara, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia (BI) will continue to remain in the market to maintain the stability of the exchange rate and the adequacy of rupiah liquidity post the recent protests.

Harumbi Prastya Hidayahningrum, Ricki Putra Harahap, Hendro D Situmorang, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto on Sunday announced sweeping measures to address public anger after violent protests erupted across Indonesia, pledging accountability in a police brutality case and backing reforms to rein in lawmakers' benefits.

Jakarta – Social media platform TikTok announced on Saturday that it has temporarily suspended its live feature in Indonesia for "a few days" because of violent protests after the death of a man hit by a police vehicle.

Michael Sheils McNamee – Mass protests have broken out in cities across Indonesia with clashes between police and those in attendance following the death of a ride-sharing driver who was hit by a police vehicle on Thursday night.

Twenty-one-year-old Affan Kurniawan had been taking part in the action opposing housing perks for politicians and cost-of-living issues.

Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto on Saturday canceled a planned trip to China as days of protests spread further outside the capital Jakarta, with several regional parliament buildings set ablaze.

Prabowo had been due to attend a "Victory Day" parade in China on September 3 to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two following Japan's formal surrender.

Antara, Jakarta – The Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) Ministry on Saturday denied imposing restrictions on media coverage of ongoing nationwide protests, as TikTok moved to suspend its livestreaming feature in the country amid escalating violence.

Associated Press, Makassar – An angry mob set fire to a local parliament building in Makassar, South Sulawesi, leaving at least three people dead and five others hospitalized, officials said on Saturday.

The blaze began late Friday. Television reports showed the provincial council building ablaze overnight, causing the area to turn an eerie orange color.

Johnny Johan Sompotan, Andrew Tito, Jakarta – The homes of Indonesian lawmakers Uya Kuya and Eko Patrio were looted on Saturday night as unrest over parliamentary pay and benefits continued to engulf Jakarta and spread to other cities across the country.

Salsabilla Azzahra Octavia, Jakarta – Motorcycle taxi driver Affan Kurniawan was killed in the midst of a protest in Jakarta on Thursday, August 28, 2025, when he was run over by a tactical police vehicle from the Mobile Brigade Corps (Brimob) of the Indonesian National Police.

Adil Al Hasan, Jakarta – The Independent Journalists Alliance (AJI) Jakarta has launched the results of the 2025 Fair Wages Survey for Journalists in the Jabodetabek (Greater Jakarta) area. The AJI survey results indicate that the fair wage for journalists this year is Rp9.1 million per month, an increase from the previous fair wage of Rp8.3 million.

M. Rizki Yusrial, Jakarta – The demonstration wave in Jakarta, Indonesia, has escalated over the past few days. Vandalism of public facilities amid mass protest, such as TransJakarta bus shelters and other amenities, has been inevitable.

Faisal Maliki Baskoro, Jakarta – Several foreign embassies have issued fresh travel warnings for Indonesia as nationwide protests turned violent and looting spread.

Hanaa Septiana, Jakarta – The Grahadi State Building, or the official residence complex of the Governor of East Java on Jalan Raya Gubernur Suryo, Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia, was set on fire by a mob on Saturday, August 30, 2025. Soaring flames were visible on the west side of the building.