In a vibrant display of dissent, hundreds of women donned in pink and armed with broomsticks took to the streets of Jakarta on Wednesday, voicing their concerns over police misconduct and extravagant government expenditures. This march is part of an ongoing wave of protests that have gripped the Indonesian capital and other major cities for over a week, fueled by rising living costs and the lavish benefits enjoyed by members of parliament.
The demonstrations escalated following the tragic death of young motorcycle taxi driver Affan Kurniawan, who was reportedly struck and killed by a police vehicle. As tensions grew, President Prabowo Subianto announced the cancellation of his planned trip to China for a significant military parade. However, he was later seen participating in a group photo opportunity with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin.
Women’s Alliance leads the charge
Before his departure to China, Prabowo pledged to address one of the key grievances of the protesters by retracting some of the perks allotted to lawmakers. At Wednesday’s rally, participants, primarily from the Indonesian Women’s Alliance (IWA), expressed their intent to “sweep away the dirt of the state, militarism, and police repression” using their broomsticks as a powerful symbol. Protesters also carried placards demanding reforms within the police force.
“Protests are not crimes, but rather democratic rights inherent in every citizen,”
remarked Mutiara Ika, a participant from the rally, during an interview with BBC Indonesia.
The IWA consists of 90 women’s organizations and movements, along with various civil society groups, including labor unions and human rights advocates. Throughout Indonesia’s history, women have played a vital role in opposing oppressive regimes, including their significant involvement during the protests leading up to the 1998 reform era against Suharto’s authoritarian rule.
Symbolism and solidarity in protests
The choice of pink as a rallying color reflects bravery, as emphasized by the IWA. Other demonstrators showed their solidarity by wearing green, the color associated with Affan’s rideshare company uniform. On social media platforms, users are embracing the colors, referring to them as “hero green” and “brave pink”, with many customizing their profile pictures with filters in these hues.
The United Nations’ human rights office has urged for “prompt, thorough, and transparent investigations” into allegations of human rights abuses linked to the police’s handling of the protests. Amnesty International Indonesia’s Executive Director, Usman Hamid, stated,
“The state must immediately meet all the demands of the people during the demonstrations before further casualties occur.”
Reports indicate that at least 10 individuals died during the recent protests, with many others severely injured. The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation reported that over 1,042 people required hospitalization as a result of the unrest. Anis Hidayah, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, expressed concern over the violence perpetrated by authorities during the protests, highlighting a troubling lack of dialogue between the government and citizens.
In response to the nationwide outcry, President Prabowo announced on Sunday that he would be scaling back certain state-funded privileges for politicians, including reducing allowances. While this move garnered some approval from protesters, many argue that it falls short of addressing broader issues at play.
Herianto, a former central coordinator for the All-Indonesian Students’ Union, articulated the sentiment of many, stating,
“It is not only about one issue, but about long-standing concerns with inequality, governance, and accountability.”
He emphasized the need for substantive reforms, particularly in sectors that directly impact ordinary citizens, such as agricultural policy, education, and equitable economic opportunities.
The overarching aim of these protests is to foster a governance system that is more accountable, transparent, and oriented towards the needs of the populace.