Students Clash with Jakarta Police Over State Spending and Fuel Hike
Hundreds of students walked the streets of Jakarta on Friday, demanding that President Prabowo Subianto stop what they called "wasteful state spending" and cancel his flagship free‑meal programme.
They also protested the government’s decision to raise fuel prices by more than 30%, a move that would strain the middle‑class budget. The protests came amid the rupiah’s recent slide and months of public anger over perceived mismanagement of the country.
"Fuel prices are going up, and our lives are getting harder," shouted university student Zaki at police officers. The same student added, “Why are you afraid of student voices? They say demonstrations are guaranteed by the constitution? That’s not happening today.”
Video shows police shields being lowered as protesters pushed and kicked their way toward the Hotel Indonesia roundabout, a landmark in the city.
There were no immediate reports of injuries, but the clash with police highlighted increasing public dissent. Protesters used the hashtag "#MenujuIndonesiaBangkrut," meaning "Towards Bankrupt Indonesia," to rally support.
The free‑meal programme, launched by Prabowo during his 2024 presidential campaign, has an annual cost of about $28 billion. Critics say it has suffered from mass food poisonings and corruption allegations. The government has described the programme as an "investment in Indonesia's future." Earlier this week, Prabowo fired the head of the agency responsible for the free meals programme amid these controversies.
The protest follows last year’s violent anti‑government demonstrations sparked by the death of a delivery rider, which exposed elite rule and alleged state mismanagement.
