Indonesian Students Protest Fuel Price Rise and State Spending

Hundreds of students marched through central Jakarta on Friday to oppose recent fuel price increases and a government spending program they said could bankrupt the country. The protesters called on President Prabowo Subianto to end the free-meals initiative and reverse the fuel price hike. They pointed to mass food poisonings, corruption allegations, and added costs for middle-income households.

Pertamina raised prices for two grades of Pertamax fuel by more than 30 percent earlier in the week. Indonesia had kept fuel prices largely stable until the increases, which officials linked to spending on the free-meals program. The free-meals program carries an annual cost of $28 billion and is intended to reduce child malnutrition and improve education.

University student Rina said the program had faced repeated problems since its launch.

Demonstrators gathered near the Hotel Indonesia roundabout, where police formed lines with shields to block the route. Video showed some participants attempting to push through the barricade and throwing objects. No injuries were reported. Students used the hashtag #MenujuIndonesiaBangkrut on social media to frame their concerns about national finances.

University student Zaki shouted that rising fuel prices were making daily life harder and questioned why police were restricting the demonstration.