Foreign embassies in Indonesia are tightening travel advisories as violence spreads

Foreign embassies in Indonesia are tightening travel advisories as mass protests spiral into some of the deadliest unrest Indonesia has seen in years.

What began as student demonstrations against lawmakers’ financial perks has swelled into a nationwide movement. It generated violent clashes leaving at least six people dead, hundreds injured, and nearly a thousand arrested in Jakarta alone.

The turmoil erupted on August 25, when students staged rallies against parliament’s decision to grant legislators a housing allowance worth about $3,000—at a time when ordinary Indonesians are struggling with soaring living costs.

Anger exploded three days later when a 21-year-old delivery drive was fatally struck by a police armored vehicle during a protest in central Jakarta. His death, widely shared on social media, has become the symbol of what many see as deepening inequality and unchecked police power.

Violence spreading all across Indonesia

Demonstrations then rapidly spread across the archipelago. Crowds torched regional parliament buildings, police stations, and public buses in cities from Makassar to Surabaya.

In South Sulawesi, three people were killed when protesters set fire to a regional assembly. Hundreds of students and motorcycle taxi drivers protested in front of police headquarters in Bali. In Jakarta, police had to restrict cars on major roads near the Parliament Building and the State Palace, paralyzing traffic in the city center.

Foreign governments have begun warning their citizens to steer clear of protest sites. The U.S. Embassy in Jakarta alerted Americans to the possibility of sudden violence near government buildings and urged them to avoid crowds and remain vigilant in tourist areas. Australia advised travelers to stay away from demonstrations in major cities, including Bali’s capital Denpasar.

Singapore and Britain issued similar alerts, emphasizing the risk of sudden escalation. Over the weekend, China and Vietnam also joined the list of countries urging their nationals to avoid rallies and large gatherings.

Are President Prabowo concessions sufficient to bring back order? 

The Indonesian government is now scrambling to contain the fallout. On Sunday, President Prabowo Subianto canceled a planned diplomatic trip to China to address the crisis at home. In a televised address, he announced the revocation of lawmakers’ housing perks and imposed a freeze on overseas parliamentary travel. He described the measures as necessary to restore public trust.

He also condemned the violence, warning that the protests were veering toward “treason”. It vowed stronger police and military action if the unrest continues.

The protests have inflicted sweeping damage. More than three dozen regional parliament buildings have been destroyed or badly damaged. In Jakarta, public transport such as the TransJakarta bus system and parts of the MRT were disrupted. Mobs have ransacked officials’ residences, including that of Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, deepening fears of political instability.

Despite Prabowo’s concessions, student groups and civil society organizations have vowed to keep pressing for broader reforms. The question remains now whether Indonesia’s leaders can calm the fury before it spins into an even deeper political crisis. Which would have a serious impact on tourism...

Related News Stories:  Accor Group - TravelMole