'Avengers' and 'white flags': How Indonesians are voicing dissent against the government

Indonesia marked its 81st Independence Day with a grand celebration, featuring a large carnival with floats representing government ministries and agencies. President Prabowo Subianto presided over the event, which included a parade showcasing government achievements, such as the National Nutrition Agency's Free Nutritious Meals program.

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Over the past one and a half years of the Free Nutritious Meals program, the National Nutrition Agency has reached 56.9 million beneficiaries, operates more than 27,000 kitchens and has created jobs for 1.3 million people.

However, the festivities were met with criticism from various quarters. Concerns were raised about the substantial cost of the celebrations, with reports indicating significant spending on items like doves released at the State Palace and goodie bags for attendees. Critics argued that these funds could have been better utilized for earthquake relief, especially given the country's recent experience with one of its deadliest disasters.

The government, through its Communications Office, defended the expenditure, framing the celebrations as a crucial display of national dignity. They deemed it unfair to evaluate the spending solely on budget efficiency. This stance contrasted with President Prabowo's own calls for limiting budget waste, adding a layer of complexity to the public discourse.

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To be honest, it's only over these past two years that we've started delivering results. I think after two years, we're doing alright. Our report card is OK.

Adding to the dissent, some citizens voiced their disappointment with the current administration's performance. Faisal Zulham, known as Tengku Faisal, described the first two years of Prabowo's presidency as stagnant, citing declining purchasing power, increasing poverty, persistent unemployment, and widespread corruption. He also pointed to the continued abuse of authority by state officials against ordinary citizens, highlighting a disconnect between the government's narrative and the public's lived experiences.

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People's purchasing power continues to decline, poverty is increasing, unemployment remains a problem, corruption is rampant from top to bottom, and state officials continue to abuse their authority over ordinary citizens.