On Wednesday, numerous women dressed in pink and carrying broomsticks gathered in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, to protest against alleged police abuses and excessive government spending. This demonstration is part of a series of protests that have been occurring for over a week in Jakarta and other major cities, driven by rising cost-of-living concerns and perceived government extravagance, particularly relating to perks for members of parliament.
Tensions escalated after the death of young motorcycle taxi driver Affan Kurniawan, who was reportedly killed by a police vehicle. In response to the unrest, President Prabowo Subianto announced he would forgo a trip to Beijing for a military parade, although he was later photographed alongside Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin. Prior to this, Prabowo had pledged to cut back on lawmakers’ benefits, one of the key grievances of the protesters.
The demonstrations were marked by the presence of the Indonesian Women’s Alliance (IWA), which includes 90 women’s organizations and civil groups. Protesters advocated for police reform and expressed their beliefs that protesting is a fundamental democratic right. The IWA’s use of pink was intended to symbolize bravery, while some participants wore green in solidarity with Kurniawan.
Social media users have joined the movement by adopting the colors “hero green” and “brave pink” in their profiles. The United Nations’ human rights office has urged thorough investigations into claims of human rights violations amid the protests. Multiple reports indicate that at least 10 individuals have died during these demonstrations, with many more injured.
Officials from the National Human Rights Commission have expressed concern over increasing violence from authorities. President Prabowo’s recent announcements regarding political allowances have been viewed as insufficient by some protesters, who emphasize that systemic issues such as inequality and governance require comprehensive reforms.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7vlv2gpvvzo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss