Andi Adam Faturahman, Jakarta – Police fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators in front of the People's Representative Council (DPR) building in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Monday, August 25, 2025. Tempo observed that police began firing tear gas around 1:10 p.m. as crowds started to gather in front of the parliament building.
As a result, protesters fled toward Jalan Gerbang Pemuda and onto the Jakarta Inner Ring Road. In the ensuing chaos, some protesters, many of them young, were trampled as they tried to escape the spreading clouds of tear gas.
Deputy Chief of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, Brigadier General Dekananto Eko Purwono, who was present at the scene, declined to give any statements when approached in front of the building.
Based on Tempo's observations until 1:50 p.m., at least one company of TNI soldiers took turns guarding the area to prevent demonstrators from returning.
The protest, under the banner of the "Indonesian People's Revolution," was organized via chain messages on WhatsApp and social media. The movement called on members of the public, including laborers, farmers, and students, to take to the streets.
Their demands included an investigation into alleged corruption by former President Joko Widodo or Jokowi's family and the impeachment of Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka. The messages, obtained by Tempo on Friday, August 22, 2025, also urged the DPR to fulfill its duty of providing government oversight.
In addition to the demands for an investigation into Jokowi's family and the impeachment of Gibran, the messages called for action on other issues, such as tax increases, debates over state debt, and the disparity in welfare between DPR members and the public.
Chief of the Central Jakarta Metro Police Resort, Sr. Comr. Susatyo Purnomo Condro, confirmed that approximately 1,250 combined personnel were deployed to secure the demonstration.
He stated that the security detail would be carried out in a humane manner and prioritize persuasive approaches. He also claimed that the personnel on duty are not equipped with firearms, according to a statement received by Tempo on Monday.