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Five Things To Know About Indonesia’s Deadly Protests
Violent clashes have erupted across Indonesia, boiling into the biggest test of Prabowo Subianto’s 10-month presidency, with at least four people killed in separate incidents.
Southeast Asia’s biggest economy has been simmering with discontent in recent weeks over economic issues such as financial perks for lawmakers, but a motorcycle gig driver’s death sparked widespread protests on Friday.
Here are five things to know about the unrest in Indonesia:
Deep-rooted anger
Deep-rooted discontent emerged on the streets of Jakarta when several hundred protesters rallied outside parliament on Monday, angry about lavish benefits for lawmakers that include a housing allowance nearly 10 times the minimum wage in the capital.
Fresh demonstrations were held again on Thursday, with hundreds protesting into the night against low wages. Police moved to disperse that crowd using tear gas and water cannon.
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During that protest, a black tactical van from the Mobile Brigade Corps (Brimob) paramilitary unit ran over and killed 21-year-old driver Affan Kurniawan.
The footage went viral and stoked further anger over police tactics.
Protests spread
Protests escalated after Affan’s death, with rallies starting in cities across the country.
Thousands, many of them “ojek” motorcycle drivers like Affan, protested in front of the Brimob headquarters and the police office in Jakarta.
Protesters hurled firecrackers, Molotov cocktails and rocks, while others started fires.
Protests also began in cities such as Yogyakarta, Bandung, Solo and Semarang in Java, and in Medan in Sumatra.
At least three people were killed and four injured in Makassar, the biggest city on the eastern island of Sulawesi, after protesters set fire to a council building.
Tip of the iceberg
Thousands of Indonesians protested in February against Prabowo’s widespread budget cuts.
He said he had slashed budgets to fund populist policies, including a billion-dollar free meal programme for schoolchildren and pregnant mothers.
However, experts say Indonesians have become disenchanted with their economic situation.
“There are also problems with unfair taxes, people’s declining purchasing power and the lack of job opportunities,” Bhima Yudhistira Adhinegara, executive director of the Center of Economic and Law Studies, told AFP.
More than 42,000 people were laid off between January and June, a 32 percent rise on last year, the Ministry of Manpower said.
Ride-hailing workers like Kurniawan have also faced bigger pay deductions and longer working hours.
Bhima said that discontent boiled over because of the lack of empathy shown by lawmakers.
“The problems piled up like dried hay, and the parliament lit the fire,” he said.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg.”
Prabowo test
The protests are Probowo’s biggest test since he took office in October, and experts say the ex-general must act to quell public fury.
“If I were the president, I’d remove the National Police chief from his post,” Made Supriatma, visiting fellow at Singapore’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, told AFP.
“The people need a symbolic gesture from him.”
Prabowo and the National Police chief have promised to investigate Affan’s death.
Police have also detained seven Brimob officers, saying they had violated the ethics code.
Made said Prabowo should re-evaluate key programmes such as the free meal scheme and the new multibillion-dollar sovereign wealth fund Danantara.
“He needs to change the course, and he should re-evaluate his cabinet as well,” he said.
More protests
More protests are expected as public anger simmers.
Hundreds of students rallied outside the East Java police headquarters in Surabaya on Saturday, according to an AFP journalist at the scene.
Some ojek drivers said on social media they would return to the streets soon to protest against lawmakers.
There were also calls online for more protests outside parliament next week to demand its dissolution.
“I believe these protests are very likely to continue for the next few days,” said Made.
Manuel Neuer has been called up to Germany’s World Cup squad – two years after his international retirement.
The 40-year-old was named as part of Julian Nagelsmann’s 26-man squad for the tournament this summer, having not featured for his country since Euro 2024.
Among the list include Premier League players Malick Thiaw and Nick Woltemade – both of Newcastle – Arsenal striker Kai Havertz, Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz and Brighton’s Pascal Gross.
Injured duo Serge Gnabry and Anton Stach and forwards Karim Adeyemi, Kevin Schade and Niclas Fullkrug are among those to miss out.
Germany’s World Cup squad in full
Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Alexander Nubel (Stuttgart)
Defenders: Waldemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund), Nathaniel Brown (Eintracht Frankfurt), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich), Malick Thiaw (Newcastle)
Midfielders: Pascal Gross (Brighton), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund), Aleksandar Pavlovic (Bayern Munich), Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool), Jamie Leweling (Stuttgart)
Forwards: Maximilian Beier (Borussia Dortmund), Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Leroy Sane (Galatasaray), Deniz Undav (Stuttgart), Nick Woltemade (Newcastle)
Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has opened up on the club’s decision to appoint Xabi Alonso as their new manager.
The Blues confirmed the Spaniard as their next head coach following the conclusion of the 2025-26 season, with Alonso set to take charge ahead of the upcoming campaign.
Mikel had previously been vocal about Chelsea’s managerial philosophy, urging the club’s ownership to move away from short-term head coaches and interim appointments and instead bring in a proper manager with full control over the squad
Speaking on his most recent podcast, Mikel said:
“I am glad the owners listened to me, and listened to the fans.
“Forget about coaches, what we have always had are managers, and what we need is a manager who decides on the players he wants out and the players who can stay.
“We need a strong personality, and that is what we have got now in Alonso.
“That title has been changed from coach to manager, but I hope it’s not just words and he is actually allowed to manage the squad. But I am very happy with the appointment.”
Chelsea are still in the hunt for Europa League football, and a win over Sunderland on the final day of the Premier League season would go a long way in determining whether Alonso inherits a European stage to build on next season.
Enzo Maresca is believed to have signed a three-year deal to replace outgoing Man City manager Pep Guardiola, after it was revealed that the legendary head coach will be leaving the Etihad at the end of the season.
Speculation around Guardiola’s departure date has been rife as the season draws to a close, despite the Catalan having one year left on his contract.
According to report, Man City’s sponsors were among those to have been told that Guardiola will be calling time on a remarkable trophy-ladened spell on Sunday.
The report also shared that Maresca, Guardiola’s former assistant, was a front-runner for the vacant spot at the dugout, with Fabrizio Romano confirming on Tuesday morning that the ex-Chelsea manager will be taking over.
The Italian head coach has been out of work since his mutual departure from Stamford Bridge under strained circumstances on January 1.
But even before his acrimonious mid-season exit, Maresca has been viewed as a long-term successor to Guardiola following their stint working together at Man City.
The 46-year-old served as Guardiola’s assistant between 2022 and 2023 after previously coaching Man City’s youth sides, before departing to earn Championship promotion with Leicester.
Maresca then went on to win the Uefa Conference League and the Club World Cup with Chelsea during his 18-month spell in west London.
Guardiola is set to celebrate his time in English football with an open-top bus parade in Manchester after winning the Carabao Cup and FA Cup this season, but until Monday night, the manager had been notably vague over his future plans.
But before news broke of his shock exit, Guardiola had been keen to tamp down any suggestions that he would be commemorated with any fanfare.
‘The club don’t have to do anything, honestly,’ Guardiola, who has yet to officially confirm his departure, said. ‘The important thing in our lives is that when you look back, you can look with a big smile and say “that was good”.
‘Bernardo (Silva) and John (Stones) can feel that. We spoke about it over the last few days. When you’re old, a grandfather, you can look at the memories. That is the most important thing in life.’
Tired of addressing his contractual situation, Guardiola added with a dose of sarcasm: ‘Whatever happens at the end of the season – and when I extend my contract for three more years – I can look back and say, “how nice has that been?”
‘That is the most important thing by far. Most of the people who lived this time here together can feel it.’
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