Indonesian students to stage parliament protest, await meeting with government

4/9/2025 15:53

Indonesian students will stage protests at the parliament building in the capital Jakarta on Thursday, a student group said, as a proposed meeting with the government on massive demonstrations that have left 10 people dead was yet to materialise.



Led by students, workers and rights groups, last week's protests over police violence and state spending priorities spread across the world's third-largest democracy after a police vehicle hit and killed a motorcycle taxi driver. The demonstrations have at times turned violent. Rights groups said 10 people have died and over 1,000 people were injured in incidents of looting and rioting. Rights groups have condemned the use of force by security forces.



The coalition of student bodies, known locally as BEM SI, said ahead of Thursday's protest that "the people's anxiety isn't due to protests on the street, but it's due to corruption and the politicisation of the law." Ten student unions met with parliamentarians on Wednesday.



They called for an independent investigation into police violence, while drawing a contrast between generous benefits for lawmakers and the economic hardship faced by most Indonesians.