JAKARTA, Sept 1 — Indonesian students and civil society groups called off protests today after a week of escalating anger over lawmakers’ pay and the police response, citing fears of heightened security measures after deadly riots over the weekend.
The protests began in Jakarta a week ago, and have spread nationwide, escalating in size and intensity after a police vehicle hit and killed a motorcycle taxi driver on Thursday night.
Yesterday, President Prabowo Subianto said political parties had agreed to cut lawmakers’ benefits, in an attempt to calm the protests in which at least five people have died.
He also ordered the military and police to take stern action against rioters and looters after homes of political party members and state buildings were ransacked or set ablaze.
The Alliance of Indonesian Women, a coalition of women-led civil society groups, said it had delayed planned protests at the parliament to avoid any crackdown by authorities.
“The delay is done to avoid increased violent escalation by authorities ... the delay takes place until the situations calm down,” the group said in an Instagram post yesterday.
Student groups also delayed a protest today, with one umbrella group saying the decision was “due to very impossible conditions”.
It is unclear if other groups will stage demonstrations in Jakarta or other cities today, with social media posts from some groups warning of fake protest flyers.
The protests and violence have unsettled financial markets, with the stock market falling more than 3 per cent in opening trades on today. — Reuters
