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Indonesian politicians to have perks cut in bid to quell unrest | Indonesian politicians to have perks cut in bid to quell unrest |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Watch: Fatal anti-government demonstrations take place across Indonesia | |
Indonesian political parties have agreed to reverse some state-funded perks their politicians receive in a bid to quell nationwide protests, the country's president has said. | Indonesian political parties have agreed to reverse some state-funded perks their politicians receive in a bid to quell nationwide protests, the country's president has said. |
Several cities in the southeast Asian nation including the capital, Jakarta, have been gripped by anti-government demonstrations in the past week that have at times led to clashes between protesters and police. | Several cities in the southeast Asian nation including the capital, Jakarta, have been gripped by anti-government demonstrations in the past week that have at times led to clashes between protesters and police. |
While the protests have been fuelled by a wide range of issues - including the death of a ride-sharing driver - one core complaint concerns a new monthly allowance for lawmakers. | While the protests have been fuelled by a wide range of issues - including the death of a ride-sharing driver - one core complaint concerns a new monthly allowance for lawmakers. |
President Prabowo Subianto announced on Sunday that several perks would be reined in, including the size of some allowances. | President Prabowo Subianto announced on Sunday that several perks would be reined in, including the size of some allowances. |
The Indonesian leader - who has already had to cancel a trip to China over the unrest - said some demonstrations had gone beyond what was considered peaceful and may amount to "treason and terrorism". | The Indonesian leader - who has already had to cancel a trip to China over the unrest - said some demonstrations had gone beyond what was considered peaceful and may amount to "treason and terrorism". |
He added that he had ordered the police and armed forces to take strong action against looting and property damage. | He added that he had ordered the police and armed forces to take strong action against looting and property damage. |
The home of Indonesia's finance minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati was among several targeted by looters on Sunday, news agency AFP reports. | The home of Indonesia's finance minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati was among several targeted by looters on Sunday, news agency AFP reports. |
The protests have primarily centred on an increase of 50 million rupiah ($3,030; £2,250) in parliamentarians' allowances - almost 10 times the minimum wage in Jakarta. | The protests have primarily centred on an increase of 50 million rupiah ($3,030; £2,250) in parliamentarians' allowances - almost 10 times the minimum wage in Jakarta. |
But they escalated after Affan Kurniawan, a 21-year-old ride-sharing driver, was run over by a police vehicle during a demonstration in the capital on Thursday. | But they escalated after Affan Kurniawan, a 21-year-old ride-sharing driver, was run over by a police vehicle during a demonstration in the capital on Thursday. |
The incident inflamed tensions and prompted accusations that police were using excessive force to deal with protesters. Seven officers were found to have violated a professional ethics code and an investigation into the incident has been launched. | The incident inflamed tensions and prompted accusations that police were using excessive force to deal with protesters. Seven officers were found to have violated a professional ethics code and an investigation into the incident has been launched. |
Ride-hailing and delivery drivers in Indonesia have long argued that their pay and conditions are unfair. The death of one of their own brought shows of solidarity amongst their ranks. | Ride-hailing and delivery drivers in Indonesia have long argued that their pay and conditions are unfair. The death of one of their own brought shows of solidarity amongst their ranks. |
Prabowo and the chief of police both issued public apologies for the incident, with the president saying he was "shocked and disappointed" by the officers' actions. | Prabowo and the chief of police both issued public apologies for the incident, with the president saying he was "shocked and disappointed" by the officers' actions. |
Three people were killed after protesters set fire to a regional parliament building on Friday evening. | Three people were killed after protesters set fire to a regional parliament building on Friday evening. |
Over the weekend protests continued, with police in central Jakarta firing tear gas to disperse crowds on the streets, while some demonstrators threw Molotov cocktails and firecrackers at a police compound. | Over the weekend protests continued, with police in central Jakarta firing tear gas to disperse crowds on the streets, while some demonstrators threw Molotov cocktails and firecrackers at a police compound. |
President Prabowo Subianto made his statement alongside political party leaders on Sunday | President Prabowo Subianto made his statement alongside political party leaders on Sunday |
Rehayu Saraswati, a member of the ruling party in Indonesia, told the BBC the large-scale protests had come as "quite a surprise". | Rehayu Saraswati, a member of the ruling party in Indonesia, told the BBC the large-scale protests had come as "quite a surprise". |
"I don't think any of us saw this coming," she told BBC Newshour. "It happened very, very quickly within a matter of days." | "I don't think any of us saw this coming," she told BBC Newshour. "It happened very, very quickly within a matter of days." |
Ms Rehayu Saraswati rejected protesters' suggestion that the government was being "tone deaf". | Ms Rehayu Saraswati rejected protesters' suggestion that the government was being "tone deaf". |
"We understand that the situation is difficult, and that the economy has been quite, I would say, challenging for some people," she said. | "We understand that the situation is difficult, and that the economy has been quite, I would say, challenging for some people," she said. |
The recently announced cuts to the parliamentary budget and allowances, she added, were "a way to show that we are listening". | The recently announced cuts to the parliamentary budget and allowances, she added, were "a way to show that we are listening". |
Prabowo did not specify which lawmakers would have their allowances curtailed, but said a moratorium on overseas trips would also be imposed. | Prabowo did not specify which lawmakers would have their allowances curtailed, but said a moratorium on overseas trips would also be imposed. |
However, the concessions to the protesters may not quell the widespread dissent. | However, the concessions to the protesters may not quell the widespread dissent. |
Muzammil Ihsan, head of the All Indonesian Students' Executives Body, the country's largest student group, told Reuters that the move was "not enough" and that further demonstrations were being considered. | Muzammil Ihsan, head of the All Indonesian Students' Executives Body, the country's largest student group, told Reuters that the move was "not enough" and that further demonstrations were being considered. |
"The government must resolve deep-rooted problems," he said. "The anger on the streets is not without cause." | "The government must resolve deep-rooted problems," he said. "The anger on the streets is not without cause." |
Protesters have demanded higher wages, lower taxes and stronger anti-corruption measures. | Protesters have demanded higher wages, lower taxes and stronger anti-corruption measures. |
The demonstrations have been seen as the first significant test for Prabowo's leadership since he assumed the presidency in October. | The demonstrations have been seen as the first significant test for Prabowo's leadership since he assumed the presidency in October. |
The former general has been dogged for decades by allegations of human rights abuses, and his critics have expressed concerns of Indonesia returning to its authoritarian past - though Prabowo pledged greater stability and economic development during his election campaign. | The former general has been dogged for decades by allegations of human rights abuses, and his critics have expressed concerns of Indonesia returning to its authoritarian past - though Prabowo pledged greater stability and economic development during his election campaign. |