JAKARTA, September 2 — Beneath the smoke of burning buildings and the anger echoing through the streets, something deeper is unraveling in Indonesia. The government’s recent attempts to quell unrest — including rolling back perks for lawmakers and pausing overseas trips — are failing to reach the heart of the matter. Because at its core, this unrest isn’t just about politics. It’s about people.
Six lives lost. Twenty still missing. These are not just numbers — they are fathers, mothers, daughters, sons. Behind every protest sign and shattered glass window is a deeper cry: the frustration of ordinary Indonesians who feel abandoned in their own country.
The discontent began over excessive benefits for politicians, like a $3,000 housing allowance — a staggering figure when compared to Jakarta’s minimum wage. But this was only the spark. What really lit the fire was a society feeling left behind. Economic growth may be happening on paper, but ask any delivery driver, market vendor, or laid-off factory worker — they’ll tell you it’s not trickling down.
Economist Nailul Huda puts it plainly: “If economic growth is real, the people should feel it. Instead, terminations are everywhere.” Layoffs have risen by 30 percent. Wages are stagnating. Inflation is pushing basic necessities like rice out of reach. And yet, the elite continues to live in privilege, shielded from the struggles of everyday life.
President Prabowo Subianto has touted Indonesia’s growth with pride. But in the kampungs and cities beyond the polished government offices, the reality is harsher. Protestors aren’t just fighting perks; they’re fighting for survival.
And the pain isn’t confined to Jakarta. Across the country — from provincial council offices to small towns — anger is boiling. Molotov cocktails, smashed windows, and looted homes show a level of desperation that words and gestures from the top can’t fix.
Earlier promises of job creation, better education, and social programs now ring hollow for many. Budget cuts in essential areas to fund billion-dollar populist projects have only deepened the divide.
Between January and June alone, over 42,000 workers were laid off — a sharp 32 percent increase from the previous year. The cost of living is rising, yet salaries aren’t keeping up. In Jakarta, the number of people living below the poverty line has jumped to nearly half a million.
Even more alarming is the erosion of trust. The tragic death of 24-year-old delivery rider Affan Kurniawan — run down by police during protests — became a symbol of the very injustice and inequality people are tired of enduring.
So while the government scrambles to contain the unrest with policy reversals and promises, experts warn this may only be temporary.
“It’s just a matter of time until public anger resurfaces again,” said Ray Rangkuti from Lingkar Madani. “Because we’re not addressing the issues, we’re just covering them up.”
And in Indonesia today, it’s clear: what the people want isn’t just economic growth — it’s dignity, fairness, and a future they can believe in.
