Indonesian Police Detain Dozens Amid Widespread Anti-Government Protests In Multiple Cities

Indonesian police have arrested dozens of protesters following a demonstration in Surabaya against President Prabowo Subianto’s government policies, including a recent fuel price hike and a controversial free meals programme. The incident has drawn attention from rights groups, which have raised concerns over the scale of arrests and the handling of demonstrators. The protest took place on Friday near a government building in Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city. According to AFP journalists at the scene, around 100 people gathered to voice opposition to rising fuel costs and government spending priorities.

The rally initially began as a peaceful gathering but later escalated as tensions rose between protesters and security personnel deployed in the area. Eyewitness accounts and local reports suggest that some protesters began throwing rocks at police and setting fire to piles of rubbish placed in the middle of the road. The situation quickly became volatile, prompting police officers to move in to disperse the crowd. Security forces used “firm actions” to push back demonstrators and restore order, according to Surabaya police chief Luthfie Sulistiawan.

Authorities have confirmed that multiple arrests were carried out during the operation, although exact figures vary. Police chief Luthfie said that “dozens” of people were detained following the escalation, but did not provide a specific number. The lack of clarity has added to concerns raised by rights organisations about transparency in the police response. Meanwhile, Fatkul Khoir, a coordinator at the Surabaya branch of the rights group KontraS, said that 24 protesters were formally arrested and taken in for questioning. He added that the detainees were interrogated until around 3:30 am on Saturday before being held further, although they were not immediately charged.

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Rights groups have questioned whether due process was followed in all cases. According to officials and activists, the arrests came after demonstrators allegedly began throwing projectiles at police, prompting officers to respond with crowd-control measures. Some protesters reportedly set fire to roadside waste materials, further escalating the confrontation. The exact sequence of events remains under review as authorities gather statements from those detained.

The protest highlights growing public frustration in parts of Indonesia over economic pressures, particularly fuel price increases and government welfare policies such as the free meals scheme promoted by the administration. Critics argue that such policies place additional strain on public finances, while supporters of the government maintain they are aimed at supporting vulnerable communities. In recent years, Indonesia has seen periodic demonstrations over economic reforms, cost-of-living concerns, and governance issues.

While most protests remain peaceful, sporadic clashes with security forces have raised questions about crowd-control practices and the balance between maintaining order and protecting the right to protest. As investigations continue, rights groups have called for restraint, transparency, and adherence to legal procedures in dealing with those detained. Police, meanwhile, have maintained that their actions were necessary to prevent further violence and protect public infrastructure during the unrest.

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