Jakarta is tense: Soldiers are on patrol following fatal protests over MP privileges.

JAKARTA, Sept 2 — Thousands of Indonesians rallied nationwide on Monday as the military was deployed in Jakarta after six people were killed during protests sparked by anger over lavish parliamentary perks.

In the capital, at least 500 demonstrators gathered outside parliament under heavy police and military watch before dispersing after President Prabowo Subianto warned protests must end by sundown.

Elsewhere, tensions flared. In Gorontalo, Sulawesi, protesters clashed with police, who fired tear gas and water cannons, while in Bandung, West Java, demonstrators hurled Molotov cocktails and firecrackers at the provincial council building.

Large rallies also took place in Palembang, Sumatra, with smaller gatherings in Banjarmasin, Borneo; Yogyakarta, Java; and Makassar, Sulawesi, AFP journalists reported.

“Our main goal is to reform parliament,” said 20-year-old student protester Nafta Keisya Kemalia outside parliament. “Do they want to wait until we have martial law?”

The UN on Monday urged an investigation into the alleged use of excessive force during the protests.

“We are closely monitoring the wave of violence linked to demonstrations over parliamentary allowances, austerity measures, and claims of unnecessary or disproportionate force,” UN human rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said, stressing the need for dialogue to address public concerns.

Anger over perks

The deadly unrest — the most serious since Prabowo took office less than a year ago — was triggered by revelations that MPs were set to receive housing allowances nearly 10 times Jakarta’s minimum wage. Mounting pressure forced the president and parliament to roll back the plan.

Protests, initially peaceful, escalated after footage showed a paramilitary police van running over 21-year-old delivery rider Affan Kurniawan in Jakarta last Thursday.

Security was tightened across the capital on Monday, with checkpoints, city-wide patrols, and snipers deployed at key points. Schools and universities moved classes online until at least Tuesday, while civil servants were told to work from home.

Visiting injured police officers at a hospital, Prabowo criticised the demonstrations:

“The law is clear — if you want to protest, you must seek permission, and it must end by 6 pm,” he said.

Violence and looting

Despite parliament’s reversal, analysts warned unrest could persist.

“The government is in chaos. Leaders do not listen to the people’s demands,” said 60-year-old street vendor Suwardi near parliament.

The Jakarta stock index plunged over three per cent at the open on Monday before trimming losses to close 1.2 per cent lower.

Police accountability chief Agus Wijayanto said an internal probe found criminal misconduct by two officers involved in Kurniawan’s death, who now face possible dismissal.

Amid the crisis, Prabowo cancelled a planned trip to China for a World War II military parade.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister’s residence was looted and several lawmakers’ homes ransacked. At least three people died in a fire started by protesters at a council building in Makassar, while a fourth was killed by a mob in a case of mistaken identity. Another victim, a student in Yogyakarta, died in clashes.

In response to unrest, TikTok suspended its live-streaming feature in Indonesia — where it has over 100 million users — for several days starting Saturday. — AFP