Jakarta: Thousands of students took to the streets across Indonesia on Thursday in coordinated ‘Dark Indonesia’ protests, voicing opposition to budget cuts and key policies under President Prabowo Subianto. Demonstrators fear these changes will weaken social support systems and impact their future.
Dressed in black, around a thousand students marched through the streets of Yogyakarta, holding placards and chanting demands for reform. Protests also erupted in the capital, Jakarta, as well as in Medan on Sumatra island.
The ‘Dark Indonesia’ movement has gained significant traction on social media, symbolizing growing concerns over spending reductions. Another trending slogan, ‘Just Escape First’, reflects a rising sentiment among young Indonesians looking for opportunities abroad due to economic uncertainties.
Concerns Over Education and Public Services
Herianto, a student leader in Jakarta, criticized the government’s approach, highlighting the impact of the cost-cutting drive, which aims to free up approximately $19 billion to fund new policies, including a nationwide school meal program.
“Indonesia is dark because there are many policies that aren’t clear to our society,” Herianto said.
“The cuts are designed to plug a hole in the free meal program expenses. Education is one of the things that could be impacted. Students are so angry.”
At a protest in Jakarta, State Secretariat Minister Prasetyo Hadi addressed demonstrators, stating that the government had acknowledged their demands and would review them.
While Prabowo’s office insists the funding adjustments will not harm the education sector or teacher welfare, concerns remain as ministries continue to scale back spending, raising fears of disruptions to essential government services.
Additional Grievances and Rising Public Anxiety
Beyond budget cuts, students also protested the military’s growing role in civilian governance and reduced subsidies for cooking gas—issues that have further fueled public frustration.
Despite the unrest, Prabowo remains widely popular, maintaining an approval rating close to 80%, according to a recent survey by research firm Indikator Politik Indonesia.
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However, Indikator executive director Burhanuddin Muhtadi warned that public support could decline as the impact of these policies becomes more apparent.
“If the government does not respond well to this issue, there can be anxiety from the middle class, which could lower its popularity,” he said.
Largest Protests Since Pre-Election Demonstrations
The ‘Dark Indonesia’ movement marks the most significant wave of student protests since last August, when large-scale demonstrations forced parliament to shelve proposed election law revisions. Those protests saw clashes with police, fires in the streets, and tear gas deployment—raising concerns that future unrest could escalate.
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As tensions rise, students vow to continue their demonstrations, demanding greater transparency and accountability in Prabowo’s administration.
