Riot police in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, fired tear gas and used a water cannon on Monday to disperse thousands of students protesting against lavish allowances given to members of parliament.
The clashes erupted after protesters, dressed in dark clothing, threw rocks and set off fireworks at riot police as they attempted to storm Indonesia’s parliament building.
At least one motorcycle was set ablaze, but officials did not provide details about damage, casualties, or arrests.
The protests were sparked by revelations that 580 members of the House of Representatives have been receiving a housing allowance of 50 million rupiah ($3,075) per month since September 2024 — a benefit that protesters see as deeply unjust amid economic hardship for most citizens.
The housing allowance alone amounts to nearly 20 times the monthly minimum wage in some of Indonesia’s poorer regions.
Some protesters carried a flag from the Japanese manga series One Piece, which has become a popular symbol of resistance against government policies in Indonesia.
Jakarta police spokesperson Ade Ary Syam Indradi told reporters that 1,250 police personnel were deployed to secure the area around the parliament building.
There has been no immediate comment from House Speaker Puan Maharani or her deputy.On Saturday, Maharani defended the allowances, telling reporters that the amount had been “thoroughly considered and adjusted to current prices in Jakarta.”
Corruption remains endemic in Indonesia, where activists say both the police and members of parliament are widely perceived as corrupt in the country of more than 280 million people.
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