Indonesia has recently witnessed one of its most intense waves of protests in years. Demonstrations, which began on 25 August over public outrage at lawmakers’ lavish housing allowances, quickly escalated after a police armored vehicle killed a rideshare driver on 28 August, spreading nationwide. While the government framed protesters as rioters and looters to justify a harsh military and police crackdown, some acts of destruction may have been staged or amplified, highlighting the widening gap between official calls for dialogue and the force deployed on the ground. The unrest reflects broader frustrations with economic hardship, rising living costs, and policies seen as favoring elites.

Protests are not new in Indonesia. Student movements have been active for years, staging major demonstrations during the early months of Prabowo’s presidency, such as the #IndonesiaGelap movement, and in the later years of Jokowi’s presidency with movements like #ReformasiDikorupsi, #TolakOmnibusLaw, and #GejayanMemanggil. Many Indonesians view parliament as corrupt, laws as favoring elites, and the government as largely ignoring public demands. Recent demonstrations should therefore be understood as part of this ongoing cycle of civic resistance in the country.

This page provides a timeline of events, updated frequently for anyone seeking to understand the unfolding situation.