Jakarta in Indonesia and several other cities have been witnessing endless protests since last week over police brutality and government spending. The protests that are entering their second week now found new fire when a police vehicle killed a young motorcycle driver when it ran him over.
Among this, though, the Indonesian women have caught the attention of many, with the way they are protesting, wearing bright pink shirts and holding broomsticks, as they marched to the Parliament on Wednesday.
What Is Happening In Indonesia?
Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, and other key cities have seen hundreds of people coming out to protest against the rising cost of living and the lavish lifestyle of MPs.
According to reports, the public rose up in fury in the world’s third-largest democracy after it came out that all 580 members of the House of Representatives have been getting a monthly housing allowance of 50 million rupiah (roughly Rs. 2,67,915) since last year.
The anger came because not only is this allowance an addition to their salary, but the amount is about ten times Jakarta’s minimum wage.
This had critics lashing out, who justifiably called out this excessive allowance, especially during a time of economic crisis for the common public who are struggling with an increase in unemployment, living costs and taxes all around.
As per a BBC report, the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation claims that by the end of August, around 10 people have died so far in protests, and 1,042 people were injured, having to be taken to the hospital.
A Firstpost report reveals that Jakarta authorities have detained around 1,240 people. Damages from looting, rioters attacking buses, public facilities, and the parliament building are said to be around 55 billion rupiah (approximately Rs. 295 crore).
While President Prabowo Subianto, in a televised press conference, did announce that they would be rolling back benefits for parliament members, including the housing allowance and overseas trips, he also ordered the military and police to take action against those protesting and looting.
The president stated, “There are signs of unlawful acts, even leading to treason and terrorism. To the police and the military, I have ordered them to take action as firm as possible against the destruction of public facilities, looting at homes of individuals and economic centres, according to the laws.”
This came about after some state buildings and homes of politicians were vandalised or set on fire. Police further used tear gas and rubber bullets on protesters on Tuesday, as per reports.
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Why Are Indonesian Women Using Brooms?
On September 3, 2025, around 300 women from the Indonesian Women’s Alliance (IWA), a coalition of 90 women-led organisations and movements, marched to the parliament dressed in bold pink, which represents courage, and carried broomsticks.
The broomsticks were explained by The Alliance of Indonesian Women, who organised the protest as their symbol to “sweep away the dirt of the state, militarism, and police repression.”
This was also after a police-armoured vehicle ran over and killed 21-year-old motorcycle taxi driver Affan Kurniawan during a rally. The incident, captured on video, went viral and added fuel to the fire already raging among the people.
Some of the protesters also wrote green, which was the colour of Affan’s rideshare uniform, to show solidarity with what happened to him. These colours are now being referred to as “brave pink” and “hero green”, with some people even using them as filters for social media profile photos to show their support.
The protesters also carried signs demanding “reform the police” and “your sweet promises cause diabetes.” Protester Mutiara Ika, speaking with BBC Indonesia, said, “Protests are not crimes, but rather democratic rights inherent in every citizen.”
Image Credits: Google Images
Sources: Firstpost, The Hindu, Reuters
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This post is tagged under: Indonesia, Indonesia protest, Indonesian women, Indonesian women protest, Indonesian women protest broom, Indonesia president, Indonesia economy, Indonesia taxes, Indonesia unemployment, Indonesian Women’s Alliance, Indonesian Women’s Alliance protest
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