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Thousands protest across Indonesia as military deployed
Thousands of Indonesians took to the streets on Monday in several cities as the military was deployed in Jakarta following violent unrest that has left six dead in recent days. The demonstrations began last week over controversial housing allowances for lawmakers, which many citizens deemed excessive.
The protests escalated after the death of a motorcycle taxi driver on Thursday, who was run over by a police vehicle. A video of the incident quickly went viral, fueling public outrage. In Jakarta, at least 300 demonstrators gathered outside the Parliament under the watch of dozens of soldiers. Similar rallies occurred in Palembang, Banjarmasin, and Yogyakarta, with thousands participating.
The protests, the largest and most violent since Prabowo Subianto assumed the presidency last October, also addressed economic difficulties. The President announced the cancellation of a controversial lawmaker allowance but emphasized the need to respect peaceful assembly while condemning illegal actions as “treason and terrorism.”
Police investigations have led to the arrest of seven officers linked to the taxi driver’s death, with two facing potential dismissal. Military patrols and snipers were deployed around Jakarta, including the National Monument and Presidential Palace, while businesses advised employees to work from home.
Incidents of looting of lawmakers’ homes and government officials, including Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, have intensified tensions. The Jakarta Stock Exchange dropped more than 3% at opening. The death toll now stands at six, with fatalities reported in Makassar and Yogyakarta.