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 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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).

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 – 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.

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.

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."

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.

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

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Nabiila Azzahra, Jakarta – Indonesia's Civil Society Coalition for International Human Rights Advocacy (HRWG) states that excessive police violence against protesters in Jakarta on August 28, 2025, has violated international law.

Vedro Imanuel Girsang, Jakarta – Week-long protests in Jakarta have resulted in numerous casualties, as chaotic situations are met with police violence.

The end of August was marked by the widespread anger of the people.

Iman Rahman Cahyadi, Jakarta – Indonesia's Nasdem Party suspended lawmakers Ahmad Sahroni and Nafa Urbach from its parliamentary faction after remarks deemed offensive to the public triggered nationwide protests, party chairman Surya Paloh announced on Sunday.

Responding to President Prabowo Subianto's press conference today (31/08) and the earlier order by the chief of police to shoot on sight with rubber bullets any protesters attacking police headquarters, Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid said:

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said there were signs of unlawful actions, even those leading toward "treason and terrorism," during the week-long demonstrations that have been erupting across Indonesia.

Jack Moore – Viral footage of a tactical van crashing into a young delivery driver in Indonesia's capital before rolling over his body has sparked renewed anger against a police force long known for its heavy-handed tactics.

Muktita Suhartono and Sui-Lee Wee – President Prabowo Subianto of Indonesia said on Sunday that the country's House of Representatives had agreed to some policy changes that protesters across the country had been demanding over a week of demonstrations.

Rolando Fransiscus Sihombing, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has said that the current situation is chaotic and that it is leading towards makar (treason, subversion, rebellion) and terrorism. He has requested that the perpetrators be dealt with firmly.

Dian Rahma Fika, Jakarta – The Chair of Indonesia's House of Representatives' (DPR) Commission XI, Muhammad Misbakhun, denied allegations that he was planning to participate in the Sydney Marathon amidst the escalation of demonstrations in Indonesia.

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.

Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – Chairpersons and general secretary of 16 Islamic social organizations met with President Prabowo Subianto to discuss the country's situation amid escalating demonstrations across Indonesia.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Addin Anugrah Siwi, Wawan Kurniawan, Jakarta – A wave of violent unrest over parliamentary perks and political discontent swept through Jakarta and surrounding areas this weekend, with mobs looting the homes of Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and several lawmakers.

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

Ilham Oktafian, Jakarta – Indonesia's major political parties moved on Sunday to support the suspension of controversial parliamentary perks, including a Rp 50 million ($3,000) monthly housing allowance, as public anger over lawmakers' privileges boiled over into nationwide 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.

Harumbi Prastya Hidayahningrum, Jakarta – The violent protests and looting that rocked Jakarta in recent days involved three distinct clusters of actors, ranging from students and labor groups to opportunistic youths and anarchists, according to an intelligence analyst from the University of Indonesia.

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.

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.

Agencies, Jakarta – At least three people were killed by a fire allegedly started by protesters at the Makassar City Council in South Sulawesi, after rallies erupted on Friday across the country triggered by the killing of an online ride-hailing driver who was run over by a police tactical vehicle the day prior.