With brooms in hand as symbol of change, Indonesian women join Jakarta protests

JAKARTA – Hundreds of women dressed in pink joined protests in Indonesia’s capital on Sept 3 against lawmakers’ perks and police brutality, brandishing brooms as a symbol of their calls for reform, while President Prabowo Subianto flew to China for a military parade.

The women had signs with slogans saying “reform the police” and “your sweet promises cause diabetes”, as well as the brooms, which protest organiser The Alliance of Indonesian Women said symbolise a need to “sweep the state’s dirt... and the repressiveness of security forces”.

Protests involving students, workers and rights groups that began in Jakarta last week

have rocked the world's third-largest democracy, escalating nationwide after a police vehicle hit and killed a ride-hailing motorbike driver on the night of Aug 28.

Rights groups say 10 people have died in the protests, which have sparked some looting and rioting, with the police using tear gas and rubber bullets on protesters.

The Alliance, a coalition of women-led civil society groups, had called off a planned protest on Sept 1 citing the risk of a violent response by the authorities.

“We want to show that protests are mostly peaceful,” said 30-year-old Rizky Ananda, who was demonstrating against wasteful government spending. 

“If the government said the protests were treasonous, it should be questioned.”

President Prabowo has said the military and police would stand firm against violence, and said on Aug 31 that some of the unrest bore signs of terrorism and treason. 

Mr Prabowo attended

a lavish military parade in China

on Sept 3 after initially cancelling due to the unrest, with his office saying that signs of normalcy returning in Indonesia were a factor in his decision to travel.

Trying to placate the protesters, three deputy Speakers of Parliament held a meeting with at least 10 student unions, whose demands included the release of protesters from police detention and an investigation into Mr Prabowo’s accusations of treason.

The student body of the University of Indonesia called for an independent party to investigate police violence during the unrest and expressed disappointment over lawmakers’ benefits as ordinary Indonesians face economic hardship.

“It’s as if they take advantage of us in every election... But after they won, we were forgotten,” said Mr Agus Setiawan, chief of the University of Indonesia student body.

Mr Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, a deputy Parliament Speaker and senior member of Mr Prabowo’s political party, said Parliament will evaluate members’ benefits, impose a moratorium on overseas trips and introduce reforms to improve transparency.

The students will have a chance to convey their demands directly to the government on Sept 4, he said.

Fitch Ratings said the unrest could have negative repercussions for the sovereign credit profile if it dampens growth prospect or leads to increased welfare spending that adds to fiscal slippage risks.

The ratings agency “believes there is a risk that social tensions could linger as the deeper issues are likely to endure, posing political challenges for the president and the ruling coalition, even with its large parliamentary majority”, it said. REUTERS