Indonesia sees renewed youth protests over economic crisis and free school meals program

Thousands of young Indonesians have taken to the streets in Jakarta and other cities, warning that the country faces bankruptcy. The protests target President Prabowo Subianto’s administration, citing a depreciating rupiah, soaring consumer prices and the recent abandonment of a costly oil‑price‑shielding scheme that lifted gasoline prices by more than 30%.

The nation’s benchmark stock index has lost about a third of its value this year and the rupiah has fallen over 8%, deepening public discontent. A flagship free school‑meal program, launched two years ago at a cost of $15 billion and intended for 60 million children and pregnant women, is also under fire for inefficiency, alleged corruption and incidents of mass food‑poisoning. The head of the newly created National Nutrition Agency was arrested for corruption, and thousands of electric scooters bought for the scheme sit unused.

Human‑rights groups accuse the government of an increasingly authoritarian stance. Amnesty International reports that authorities label activists and journalists as “foreign agents” and use online disinformation. In March, activist Andrie Yunus was severely injured in an acid attack; in June a court sentenced four members of the military intelligence service for the assault. Protesters also denounce expanded military influence in civilian affairs and the jailing of political opponents.