Indonesia President Prabowo Subiananto has classified as “betrayal” and “terrorism” some of the protest acts performed in the country during the weekend. The wave of popular revolt began after the announcement of a salary increase for Indonesian deputies. The acts also resulted in episodes of violence, with attacks on government buildings, burnt vehicles and invasions to police stations.
The discontent of the population intensified after the disclosure that the 580 members of the House of Representatives will receive a salary increase of 33%, raising their average monthly remuneration to 230 million rules (approximately US $ 14,000). According to local sources, the average wage of workers in the country is about 3% of this amount.
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Salary increase of deputies generates wave of violent protests in Indonesia
The tension also intensified after the death of a young driver of the “Gojek” application, a kind of Uber Indonesia, hit by a police car during a protest. Three people died on Friday night (29) when protesters set fire to a government building in Makassar, in the central area of the Indonesia archipelago. In addition, several regional parliaments were attacked in three provinces of the country.
President of Indonesia revoked privileges of deputies
This Sunday (31), a crowd looted the residence of the Minister of Finance, Sri Mullani, one day after hundreds of protesters stormed two homes belonging two deputies. In response, the president confirmed the revocation of a series of privileges of the country’s parliamentarians, meeting a requirement of protesters. According to Subiante, one of the suspended benefits was the payment of daily for travel abroad.
“I ordered the National Police and the Indonesian Armed Forces to take the most energetic measures against the destruction of public facilities, the withdrawal of private residences and economic centers,” the president added after classifying the acts of depredation as terrorist acts.
Subiato would travel to China to participate, among other events, a commemorative parade for the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II on September 3. In confirming the permanence in the country, the president of Indonesia asked the countrymen to “trust the government and remain quiet.”
