Published: Sept 4, 2025

Hundreds of women, clad in pink and wielding broomsticks, took to the streets of Jakarta on Wednesday to protest against police abuses, government corruption, and the wasteful spending of public funds. The protests, which have been ongoing for over a week, were sparked by rising costs of living and lawmakers’ extravagant perks. The demonstration turned violent after the tragic death of a motorcycle taxi driver, Affan Kurniawan, who was run over by a police vehicle during the unrest.

As the protests intensified, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto initially announced that he would cancel his planned trip to Beijing for China’s grand military parade. However, photos showed him later posing with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing.

The Broomstick Symbol

The protest saw women from the Indonesian Women’s Alliance (IWA), a group of 90 women’s organizations, rallying together with broomsticks. They explained that the brooms symbolized their desire to “sweep away the dirt of the state, militarism, and police repression.” The rally also carried signs calling for police reform.

Mutiara Ika, one of the protesters, told BBC Indonesia, “Protests are not crimes, but rather democratic rights inherent in every citizen.”

The IWA is a powerful voice in Indonesia’s political landscape, having played a key role in past movements, including the 1998 protests that led to the fall of authoritarian leader Suharto.

Symbolic Colours of Solidarity

The protesters wore different colours to show solidarity. Many donned “brave pink” and “hero green” – the latter representing Affan’s rideshare company uniform. Social media users also joined the movement, customizing their profile pictures with filters in these colours.

Calls for Accountability

The United Nations and Amnesty International have called for a transparent investigation into the human rights violations during the protests. At least 10 people died during the previous wave of demonstrations in August, with many injured in clashes with police.

Amnesty International’s Executive Director in Indonesia, Usman Hamid, urged the government to address the protesters’ demands before further casualties occur.

Political Reforms and Growing Discontent

In response to the protests, President Prabowo announced plans to reduce the lavish perks given to politicians, including reducing allowances for lawmakers. While some protesters welcomed this move, many felt it didn’t go far enough in addressing the deeper issues of inequality and governance.

As one former student leader, Herianto, explained, “Symbolic changes are important, but people expect deeper reforms, particularly in areas like agriculture, education, and fair economic opportunities.” The ultimate goal, he said, is “a more accountable, transparent, and people-centered governance.”