Jakarta Deploys Thousands of Police for Student Protest Against Prabowo on Cost of Living

Jakarta authorities are preparing to deploy approximately 4,151 police officers and soldiers to manage a student protest scheduled for June 12. The demonstration is fueled by public anger over the increasing cost of living, with students urging President Prabowo Subianto to curb excessive government spending and revitalize the economy.

Jakarta police spokesman Budi Hermanto urged protesters to avoid vandalism and refrain from carrying weapons, noting that traffic diversions and road closures might be implemented based on crowd size. The significant security deployment underscores government concerns about potential large-scale unrest, despite the absence of expected participation from major civil and labor groups.

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The protests (in 2025) began when the public saw the inequality between them and public officials, how much wealth public officials have. They prefer to increase the fuel price, for example, and so on, rather than cutting their wages.

This planned protest echoes past demonstrations that have had considerable political repercussions. In 2025, widespread livelihood protests resulted in the dismissal of Prabowo's finance minister. Similarly, massive protests in 2024, just before Prabowo assumed office, prompted Parliament to withdraw proposed revisions to election laws.

Wana Alamsyah, head of the Law and Investigation Division at Indonesia Corruption Watch, commented that past protests stemmed from perceived inequality between the public and officials, particularly regarding wealth. She suggested officials could consider pay cuts during economic crises rather than increasing prices like fuel. Student groups, including BEM UI, the University of Indonesia's student executive body, have called for participation, citing concerns about the economy's deterioration, fiscal policy issues, and the erosion of the central bank's autonomy.

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Indonesia’s economy has deteriorated, but the government has unfortunately only made matters worse. Fiscal policy is leaking, Bank Indonesia’s independence is being stripped away, and the government’s communication with the public remains far from adequate.