Indonesian Students Rally Against Government Amid Economic Strain
WHO:
ABC News - Hundreds of Indonesian students protested in Jakarta and other cities.
ABC News - President Prabowo Subianto is the target of the students' demands.
ABC News - Yatalathof Ma’shum Imawan is the chair of the student organization that organized the rally.
WHAT:
ABC News - Indonesia’s rupiah currency has hit a historic low of 18,000 rupiah to the U.S. dollar earlier this month.
ABC News - President Prabowo recently fired the head of the free meals program amid a massive graft probe.
ABC News - About 1,500 protesters attempted to march to the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle.
ABC News - Protesters outlined five key demands, including cuts to state spending, lower prices for fuel and staple goods, and a halt to major government programs.
ABC News - The free meals program costs about 268 trillion rupiah ($15 billion) for the year.
ABC News - The demonstration is one of the largest student mobilizations since nationwide protests erupted last August, resulting in at least 13 deaths.
WHERE:
ABC News - The protests took place in Jakarta, West Java's Bandung city, and Pontianak on Borneo island.
ABC News - The Hotel Indonesia traffic circle is a key city landmark in Jakarta.
WHY:
Bloomberg Markets - Protesters warn that wasteful government spending risks driving the country into bankruptcy.
ABC News - Protesters are frustrated over rising living costs due to higher fuel prices linked to the U.S. war against Iran.
ABC News - Protesters view the increasing role of the military in civilian affairs as a threat to democracy.
ABC News - Yatalathof Ma’shum Imawan stated, “The government is in denial about the current situation."
HOW:
ABC News - More than 6,000 police and soldiers were deployed to manage the protests and block streets leading to the presidential palace.
(UPDATED June 12, 2026 19:39 UTC)
Indonesia's rupiah has reached a historic low of 18,000 rupiah to the U.S. dollar earlier this month, raising concerns among citizens. In response to a massive graft probe, President Prabowo has fired the head of the free meals program, a move that reflects the government's struggle with public trust. Protesters are warning that wasteful government spending could lead the country toward bankruptcy.
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(UPDATED June 12, 2026 14:02 UTC)
Hundreds of Indonesian students protested in Jakarta and other cities, demanding action from President Prabowo Subianto. About 1,500 protesters attempted to march to the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, outlining five key demands that include cuts to state spending and lower prices for fuel and staple goods. The demonstration, one of the largest student mobilizations since last August's nationwide protests, saw over 6,000 police and soldiers deployed to manage the crowds and block streets leading to the presidential palace.