Indonesian students to protest on Prabowo’s anniversary

Indonesian student groups are planning a protest on the first anniversary of Prabowo Subianto’s government in Jakarta, two months after violent demonstrations shook the country.

Protesters will gather near the presidential palace on Monday to protest government policies, the coalition of student organizations known locally as BEM SI said on Instagram along with the hashtags #1YearIsEnough and #1YearOfContinuousProblems.

“Seeing a year’s worth of momentum… makes us worry about the fate of Indonesia’s future,” BEM SI said.

In late August, student-led protests against government policies and MPs’ privileges spread across the country.

Protests escalated and the death toll rose after a delivery driver was struck and killed by a police vehicle; This was Prabowo’s biggest challenge since being elected overwhelmingly in 2024.

Wasisto Raharjo Jati, a political researcher at Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency, said Prabowo’s first year was marred by a lack of public participation in his policies.

“Overall, the Prabowo government had some turmoil in the first year, particularly due to the lack of openness and participation,” he said, referring to the president’s signature free school meal program.

The program, which aims to provide meals to millions of students and pregnant women, sparked controversy after thousands of students fell ill with food poisoning.

Prabowo has cut government spending or diverted money from other areas, including education, to fund his programs, which include free health exams and schools for poor Indonesians.

Prabowo, a former special forces commander, expanded the military’s role to include soldiers working on the food program and agricultural projects.

Prabowo has pledged to boost economic growth to eight percent during his five-year term, which runs through 2029, and has launched multiple stimulus packages to stimulate activity.