Bangla Press Desk: In Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, members of 'Gen Z' are protesting against the fragility of the national economy. Indonesian authorities have deployed over 9,500 police officers to suppress the demonstrations.
This was confirmed in a report by Reuters on Tuesday (October 20).
Jakarta police spokesperson Budi Hermanto stated that students from at least two universities are set to protest at various locations across the capital. The student union of the University of Indonesia initiated this movement to protest the country's economic instability, citing issues such as recent wildfires, a stock market downturn, and the depreciation of the Indonesian rupiah.
Additionally, the environmental organization Greenpeace hung a banner at a monument in the capital, calling for action to address the climate crisis and reduce the cost of living.
Prabowo Subianto, a former general, took office as president in 2024. Although he was elected with an overwhelming majority, his populist policies have negatively impacted the economy, leading to a loss of confidence among both the public and investors.
According to a survey by Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC), his popularity rating—which stood at 81.2% last November—has plummeted to an all-time low of 44.5% this month. Previously, in 2025, nationwide violence erupted following the death of a motorcyclist in a police-related incident; subsequently, in August of this year, hundreds of people were arrested during widespread protests.
BP/TD
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