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Prabowo Announces Warning: 'I Know Who Is Paying for Demonstrations'
🇮🇩 Indonesia /Culture & Society

Prabowo Announces Warning: 'I Know Who Is Paying for Demonstrations'

From CNN Indonesia · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto stated he knows who is funding demonstrations.
  • He issued a warning to those orchestrating protests, implying they are being paid.
  • Prabowo urged national unity, comparing Indonesia's current challenges to a football match requiring support.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto declared on Wednesday that he is aware of the entities financing and organizing demonstrations within the country. Speaking at the culmination of the 17th National Farmers and Fishermen Week in Gorontalo, Prabowo issued a direct warning, stating, "Be careful, I am warning you, I know who is paying for the demonstrations, I know it."

Be careful, I am warning you, I know who is paying for the demonstrations, I know it.

— Prabowo SubiantoIssuing a warning about the funding of protests.

Although Prabowo did not explicitly name the parties involved, he alluded to individuals being paid to protest. He recounted instances where young demonstrators seemed unaware of the protest's purpose, stating, "They were asked what the demonstration was about and they didn't understand. 'We were paid Rp200,000, but there was...'". This suggests a concern that protests are being orchestrated by external forces rather than stemming from genuine public grievances.

President Prabowo likened Indonesia's current situation to a football match, emphasizing the need for national solidarity. He urged all citizens to act as supporters, rather than critics, especially when the nation faces challenges. "Our country is competing with many countries, this nation should be united. If a friend is lacking, if our team is not doing well, we must still support them. Corrections can be made after the match is over," he stated.

They were asked what the demonstration was about and they didn't understand. 'We were paid Rp200,000, but there was...'

— Prabowo SubiantoIllustrating his point about paid demonstrators.

This call for unity comes amidst a complex political and economic landscape where Indonesia is striving to assert itself on the global stage. Prabowo's remarks highlight a potential tension between freedom of assembly and the government's desire for stability and unified national progress.

Our country is competing with many countries, this nation should be united. If a friend is lacking, if our team is not doing well, we must still support them. Corrections can be made after the match is over.

— Prabowo SubiantoUrging national unity and support.
DistantNews Editorial

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

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