Dani Aswara, Jakarta – The Indonesian Women's Alliance (API) has raised six demands addressed to President Prabowo Subianto during a protest in front of the Main Gate of the parliament complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday, September 3, 2025. The primary demand voiced is the cessation of all forms of state violence against its people.
"We demand the President immediately withdraw TNI soldiers back to the barracks, stop criminalization of dissent, and unconditionally release all detained individuals," said Mutiara Ika Pratiwi, API spokesperson and chair of Perempuan Mahardhika, when met on Wednesday afternoon.
API also calls on Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo to step down from his post, after whay they describe as brutal actions by the police forces against protesting citizens.
"Freedom to assemble and freedom of expression in public are the people's constitutional rights that must not be disrupted," said Mutiara.
In their statement, API says the state opts for a repressive action by labeling people's protests as "anarchic," which the alliance argues will legitimize violence, arrest, and criminalization against dissenting voices.
Here are the six demands of the Indonesian Women's Alliance:
1. President Prabowo to cease all forms of state violence, including by withdrawing TNI soldiers and police forces
2. President Prabowo, Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, and TNI Commander Agus Subiyanto to withdraw as soon as possible the soldiers deployed alongside police in handling public order and security
3. National Police Chief Listyo Sigit to resign from his position, and demand the police to unconditionally release all detained individuals.
4. President Prabowo to cease all forms of criminalization against the people, activists, journalists, and legal assistants, and unconditionally release those detained.
5. President Prabowo to return soldiers to the barracks and cease all forms of TNI involvement in civil affairs.
6. Ensure the full constitutional rights of citizens to assemble, to associate, and to protest in public without intimidation or violence.
The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation recorded that 3,337 people were arrested during the late August protests. The arrests were widespread in numerous regions such as Jakarta, Depok, Semarang, Cengkareng, Bogor Regency, Yogyakarta, Magelang, Bali, Bandung, Pontianak, Medan, Sorong, Malang, Samarinda, Jambi, Surabaya, and Malang.