Indonesian students and civil society organisations suspended protests on Monday after a week of mounting anger over lawmakers’ pay and the police response, citing fears of tighter security measures following deadly unrest at the weekend.
The demonstrations, which began in Jakarta a week ago, had spread nationwide, growing in size and intensity after a police vehicle fatally struck a motorcycle taxi driver on Thursday evening.
On Sunday, President Prabowo Subianto announced that political parties had agreed to reduce lawmakers’ benefits in an attempt to ease tensions. At least five people have died during the protests. He also instructed the military and police to take firm action against rioters and looters after homes of political party members and government buildings were ransacked or set on fire.
The Alliance of Indonesian Women, a coalition of women-led civil society groups, said it had postponed planned demonstrations at parliament to avoid any crackdown by the authorities.
“The delay is done to avoid increased violent escalation by authorities … the delay takes place until the situations calm down,” the group stated on Instagram on Sunday.
Student organisations likewise called off a protest scheduled for Monday, with one umbrella group saying the decision was made “due to very impossible conditions”.
It remains unclear whether other groups will still mobilise in Jakarta or elsewhere, with some social media posts warning of fake protest flyers.
The unrest has unsettled financial markets, with Indonesia’s stock market sliding more than 3% at the opening of trade on Monday.
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