Paper: GS – II, Subject: International Relations, Topic: India and its neighbourhood, Issue: Unrest inIndonesia.
Context:
Anti-government protests in Indonesia erupted over economic grievances, political dissatisfaction, and police brutality, turning nationwide and violent after the death of a delivery worker.
Key Takeaways:
Timeline & Trigger:
Protesters’ Grievances:
Structural factors:
- Income Inequality:
- Despite declining Gini coefficient, wealth gap remains high in Southeast Asia
- Budget reallocations reduced funding for public works (70%), economic affairs (52%), investment (40%), higher education (25%)
- Local governments raised property taxes sharply (e.g., 250% increase in Pati, Central Java)
- Fiscal Policies:
- Government austerity measures intended to fund “free meal” program in schools
- Cost-cutting measures sparked “Dark Indonesia” student movement in February 2025
- Middle-Class Anger: Shrinking middle class feels excluded from growth; protests seen as anti-elite
Government Response:
- President Prabowo Subianto:
- Called for calm; promised transparent investigation into Affan Kurniawan’s death
- Warned against looting, rioting; labeled some actions as bordering “terrorism and treason”
- Announced reductions in parliamentary housing allowances and foreign visits
- Police/military instructed to act against destruction of public facilities
- Cabinet action:
- Police officer responsible for Kurniawan’s death fired
- 5 Ministers reshuffled, including Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati
Significance of the protests:
- Demonstrates the link between economic inequality, fiscal policies, and political unrest
- Highlights challenges of governance in populous democracies with shrinking middle classes
- Shows role of youth and students in shaping political discourse
- Illustrates risk of social unrest due to police excesses and poor crisis management
- International relations impact: Protests occurred while Indonesia engaged in SCO summit diplomacy
Conclusion:
The 2025 Indonesian protests represent a confluence of economic grievance, inequality, and governance failures, triggered by a single tragic incident that ignited nationwide anger against elites and austerity measures.
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