Indonesia Braces for Protests as Thousands of Police Deploy in Jakarta
More than 9,000 police officers are being deployed in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, on Tuesday (October 20) to manage planned protests marking the second anniversary of President Prabowo Subianto’s rise to power. Jakarta police spokesperson Budi Hermanto confirmed the deployment to reporters.
The protests were called after a recent public opinion survey indicated a decline in Prabowo’s popularity. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Hermanto said students from at least two universities had announced demonstrations at various locations across Jakarta. A total of 9,500 police officers will be deployed to maintain order in the capital.
Students from the University of Indonesia said on Tuesday that they would protest against recent wildfires and the stock market crash. They believe the market collapse and the depreciation of the Indonesian rupiah are both signs of “the fragility of the national economy”.
The number of students expected to join the demonstrations remains unclear. University students are not the only ones protesting the rising cost of living. Environmental group Greenpeace hung a banner at a major monument in Jakarta on Tuesday. It read, “Tackle the climate crisis, lower the cost of living.”
Mr. Prabowo, a retired army general who won the presidential election by a wide margin, took office on October 20, 2024. He is now trying to restore public, business and investor confidence amid growing concerns about the economic impact of his ambitious populist programmes. Critics and even some of his supporters have expressed doubts about these policies.
According to a survey by Indonesian polling firm Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC), Mr. Prabowo’s approval rating has steadily declined since late last year. His approval rating stood at 81.2 per cent in November last year but fell to 44.5 per cent in an October survey, marking its lowest level to date.
Indonesia witnessed major protests in August, during which hundreds of people were detained. In 2025, nationwide demonstrations erupted after a motorcycle taxi driver was killed by police. Several people died during the unrest.
Source: Reuters
