The recent wave of protests that swept across the country should serve as a “wake-up call” for President Prabowo Subiano’s fledgling administration, analysts warn, saying the government has been lulled into a false sense of stability while ignoring deepening economic and political grievances.

The sudden appearance of soldiers patrolling the streets of Jakarta and other major cities since Monday has prompted nervous online twitters about the potential for martial law, as well as calls from academics and civil groups for their withdrawal to restore democratic norms.

Former deputy manpower minister Immanuel Ebenezer has admitted to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) his wrongdoing in an alleged extortion case pertaining to occupational safety and health certification in the Manpower Ministry.

The National Commission on Human Rights was conducting an investigation into security forces' handling of the protests, commissioner Anis Hidayah told journalists on Tuesday.

The House of Representatives has resumed deliberations on the domestic worker protection bill this week, continuing their progress on the long-gestating piece of legislation which has picked up pace since earlier this year.

Seven Mobile Brigade (Brimob) police officers could face criminal investigation after an ethics probe found probable cause that they not only broke ethics but also the Criminal Code when their armored vehicle ran over and killed a motorcycle taxi (ojol) driver in a protest last week.

At least 10 people died while 20 are missing and 500 injured, during and after nationwide protests that rocked Indonesia over the weekend, according to various reports from civic organizations and official institutions.

The Jakarta Police have arrested rights group Lokataru Foundation director Delpedro Marhaen on allegations of inciting riots among underage children during the weeklong protests sparked by lavish perks for lawmakers that escalated into a broader outcry against police brutality after the vehicular killing of a bystander.

At least six people have been killed since protests erupted last week, intensified by footage spreading of the killing of a young delivery driver by a paramilitary police unit.

The KPK has questioned the former religious affairs minister for a second time as a witness in the ongoing probe into alleged graft in the allocation of the 2024 haj quota, which it says prevented 8,400 regular pilgrims from completing the haj and incurred an estimated Rp 1 trillion in state losses.

Following days of demonstration over lawmakers’ allowances, political parties at the House of Representatives have reaffirmed their commitment to scaling back perks and to listening to peaceful protests, signaling the legislature’s first step in addressing mounting public criticism.

Calm is slowly returning to Jakarta under heightened security after a week of protests over lawmakers’ conduct and generous allowances, which escalated following the tragic killing of a young man by an armored police vehicle during a crowd dispersal last Thursday.

At least 500 protesters gathered outside the House of Representatives building in Jakarta on Monday afternoon as dozens of police officers watched on. Soldiers were present earlier but left after several hours.

Members of Commission I overseeing defense and foreign affairs on Monday resumed their session to discuss details of the 2026 state budget with leadership of the Indonesian Military (TNI). 

The protests began in Jakarta a week ago, and have spread nationwide, escalating in size and intensity after a police vehicle hit and killed a motorcycle taxi driver on Thursday night.

While President Prabowo Subianto on Sunday announced big concessions to roll back some legislative perks that incensed public opinion, he also instructed authorities to crack down on “treasonous” and “terrorist” elements in an attempt to diffuse the nation’s worst bout of rioting in years.

Indonesia has been simmering with discontent in recent weeks over economic issues such as financial perks for lawmakers, but a motorcycle gig driver's death sparked widespread protests on Friday.

Prabowo had been due to attend a "Victory Day" parade in China on September 3 to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two following Japan's formal surrender.

"Due to escalating violence during protests in Indonesia, we have voluntarily introduced additional safeguards to keep TikTok a safe and civil space," a TikTok spokesperson said.

The President has set up a new body to manage the mega seawall project on Java's northern coast, leaving observers wondering about its feasibility and capacity amid a swelling bureacracy and a strained budget.

The week's protests were the most violent since President Prabowo Subianto took office in October, and mark an early challenge for the president who has pledged fast, state-driven growth.

President Prabowo Subianto has urged calm as public anger mounts following the death of an online ride-hailing driver who was run over by a police tactical vehicle during clashes in Central Jakarta on Thursday evening.

In a recorded video shared with the press, Prabowo also asked people to remain calm after the protest on Thursday and to continue trusting the government.

The civilian, a motorcycle ride-sharing driver, was hit at the site of violent clashes on Thursday near parliament as police sought to disperse demonstrators protesting about issues including lawmakers' pay and education funding. 

The police response to the protests drew strong criticism after videos circulated on social media showing a black tactical vehicle running over a man.

The death of an online motorcycle taxi (ojol) driver during Thursday’s protests in Jakarta has ignited a firestorm of public indignation, with social media erupting in outrage over police brutality and even larger crowds taking to the streets on Friday. 

Under pressure from a potential internal revolt, Golkar chairman Bahlil Lahadalia turned to President Prabowo Subianto, reaffirming the party’s loyalty to the current government in what observers see as a bid to shield himself from alleged efforts to unseat him.

While differing from other recent protests against lawmakers' excessive paychecks, analysts said the rallies by labor unions shared the same calls for the legislature to be more responsive to the public's concerns.

The Constitutional Court has banned deputy ministers from holding second jobs at state-owned enterprises (SOEs), a common practice during the administration of Prabowo Subianto.

Such disinformation, particularly on TikTok and Meta's Instagram, has stoked anger and spurred protests against the government, Deputy Communications and Digital Minister, Angga Raka Prabowo, told Reuters.