The Indonesian Protests Are a Revolt Against Oligarchy

A woman strikes a police officer with a bamboo stick as police push back students during a protest outside the parliament building in Jakarta on August 28, 2025 | Bay Ismoyo / AFP via Getty Images

In an article by Jacobin, Michael G. Vann recaps the Indonesian protests. Starting from the rise of tensions throughout 2025, with demonstrations challenging President Prabowo and his policies, the article traces the different events that led to escalations in the conflict.

Jakarta is burning. So are Makassar, Bandung, Surabaya, Mataram, and other cities throughout Indonesia. Discontent that started as outrage over the lavish perks of lawmakers evolved swiftly into a searing indictment of police brutality, elite privilege, economic precarity, wealth disparities, and democratic erosion.

The horrific death of a young man named Affan Kurniawan at the hands of the police pushed Indonesia over the edge. At the moment, it is unclear how far things will fall. But even Indonesia’s authoritarian president, Prabowo Subianto, is making concessions to the massive outburst of social anger.