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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Economy & Trade

Honk If Tired of Being Indonesian: Protest Highlights Economic Woes

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A civil society group in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, held a peaceful protest expressing citizen anxiety over the country's economic situation and government policies.
  • Protesters used a 'Honk if You're Tired of Being an Indonesian Citizen' poster and a 'Box of Worries' to gather public complaints.
  • The group cited rising costs of basic needs, the weakening rupiah, and tax policies as key economic concerns impacting citizens, particularly the middle and lower classes.

In Yogyakarta, Indonesia, a group called Suara Ibu Indonesia, along with other civil society elements, staged a protest at the UGM roundabout on Friday, June 5, 2026. Their demonstration, titled "Giving Up on Being Indonesian Citizens but Still Loving Indonesia," aimed to voice growing public unease regarding the nation's economic conditions and government policies.

Honk if You're Tired of Being an Indonesian Citizen

— ProtesterA poster displayed during the peaceful demonstration at the UGM roundabout.

A prominent poster reading 'Honk if You're Tired of Being an Indonesian Citizen' drew attention from passersby, with many drivers honking in solidarity. The protest also featured a 'Box of Worries' for citizens to share their grievances and a 'Revolution Board' game for expressing frustrations on social, economic, and political issues.

Humas Suara Ibu Yogyakarta representative Marsinah explained that the current economic climate is the primary driver for the protest. She highlighted that the middle and lower-income classes are disproportionately affected by the deteriorating economy. "Today, we are worried about the worsening economic situation," Marsinah stated, noting that while the situation hasn't reached its worst, it significantly impacts these segments of the population.

Today, we are worried about the worsening economic situation. It's true that the situation hasn't reached its worst, but in the context of the economy, those most affected are the small and middle-class communities.

— MarsinahHumas Suara Ibu Yogyakarta representative explaining the reasons behind the protest at Bundaran UGM.

Participants expressed concerns over various issues, including the weakening rupiah, tax policies affecting small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and economic governance perceived as influenced by political intervention. These factors, they argued, contribute to widening economic inequality and rising prices for essential goods.

We know that today we are surprised, it seems like every day we are surprised by things, one of which is the dollar that is increasingly uncontrollable, and the second is the UMKM tax which is suffocating.

— MarsinahMarsinah elaborating on specific economic concerns during the protest.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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