‘Dark Indonesia' for Prabowo amid major protests against costly policies
Four months into his presidency, Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto is facing his first nationwide student protests, whose demands include a thorough evaluation of his costly programmes, cabinet choices and austerity-driven budget cuts.
The protests, dubbed Indonesia Gelap , or Dark Indonesia, took place on Monday and Tuesday in several cities across the country, such as Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, Semarang and Bali.
But the pinnacle of the protests will occur in front of the presidential palace in Jakarta on Thursday, according to Herianto, coordinator at All-Indonesia Association of University Student Executive Bodies, or BEM SI.
'The protests on Monday and Tuesday were [simultaneous] in every region, but the peak is tomorrow in front of the palace, and only in Jakarta. Thursday is the inauguration day of [elected] regional heads [by the president] in Jakarta,' Herianto told This Week in Asia.
Protesters are also calling for a mass demonstration of civil disobedience by forgoing work on Friday to join the protests in front of the palace. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is facing criticism for his flagship policies. Photo: Pool via AP
Nicky Fahrizal, political researcher at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Indonesia, said the students' protests underlined Prabowo's 'blunder and mediocre cabinet', though he doubted that they would 'rock' national politics.
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Asia Times
5 days ago
- Asia Times
Red flags rising over China's trade surplus with Indonesia
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To ignore it would be to misread not only the fragility of Indonesia's pluralistic society but also the limits of ASEAN's absorptive capacity. By addressing this issue with fairness, clarity and resolve, Indonesia can lead the region in forging a more balanced relationship with China—one that respects economic sovereignty, sustains regional stability and ultimately preserves the dignity of Southeast Asia's diverse peoples. Phar Kim Beng, PhD, is professor of ASEAN Studies, International Islamic University Malaysia and senior visiting fellow at the University of Cambridge. Luthfy Hamzah is senior research fellow of ASEAN Studies at Strategic Pan Indo Pacific Arena.
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South China Morning Post
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- South China Morning Post
Li Qiang's Indonesia visit highlights rapid change in world order
The United States' global tariff war has done no harm to trade and cooperation between other countries. It has prompted and energised them to nurture and develop their own relations. The uncertainty that has riled markets and troubled business has therefore had a silver lining. There is no better example in this part of the world than China – the world's second-largest economy – and Indonesia, the biggest economy in Southeast Asia, which is also China's biggest market. Premier Li Qiang has just spent three days in Indonesia, highlighted by talks with President Prabowo Subianto, a rallying address to business leaders and agreement on diverse bilateral issues. They ranged from trade and investment to cooperation in finance, agriculture, artificial intelligence, new energy, tourism, people exchanges and more. This follows President Xi Jinping's call with Prabowo in April, in which he vowed to deepen his country's strategic partnership with Indonesia. Later Li attended a joint meeting of leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and the Gulf Cooperation Council in Kuala Lumpur.
