Prabowo: Some demonstrations "constitute treason and terrorism" TikTok suspends live streaming services in Indonesia

AFP Jakarta dispatch stated that Indonesian President Prabowo addressed the recent nationwide economic conditions and inequality protests on Sunday, August 31, saying that some actions during the gatherings have "constituted treason and terrorism." However, he also announced a series of concessions in response to the protesters' demands.

According to AFP, Prabowo said during his speech at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta: "The right to peaceful assembly should be respected and protected. But we cannot deny that there are some acts that go beyond the law, even violating the law, and tending towards treason and terrorism."

Recently, a video spread widely online showing a 21-year-old motorbike delivery rider trapped in a protest against legislators' benefits. When he bent down to pick up his phone, he was ruthlessly run over by a police armored vehicle. This incident sparked public anger, leading to protests in major cities including the capital Jakarta in recent days, shaking the Southeast Asia's largest economy.

During a speech in Jakarta, Prabowo stated: "The right to peaceful assembly should be respected and protected. But we cannot deny that there are some illegal, even unlawful behaviors, which tend toward treason and terrorism."

He said that protests should be conducted peacefully, and if people destroy public facilities or loot private homes, "the state must intervene to protect its citizens."

Previously, the residence of the Indonesian finance minister was looted at night. According to AFP reporters and an eyewitness on Sunday, soldiers were standing guard outside her residence.

The anger has spread to the parliamentary group, with reports that several lawmakers' houses were looted in recent days.

The report pointed out that the protesters' dissatisfaction has been long-standing, but the protests this week mainly stemmed from one message: legislators received housing allowances nearly ten times higher than the minimum wage in Jakarta.

In the eastern city of Makassar, protesters set fire to a legislative building, resulting in at least three deaths. Two staff members died at the scene, and a third victim was a civil servant who died after being taken to the hospital. As the flames consumed the building, the crowd erupted in cheers and applause, with few security personnel present at the scene.

Severe test

The protests have spread to other major cities, including Yogyakarta, Bandung, Semarang, and Surabaya on Java Island, as well as Medan in North Sumatra province.

On Saturday, a local legislative building on Lombok Island was set on fire, and the entrance of the police headquarters in the eastern Java city of Surabaya was also set on fire.

These protests are the largest and most violent under President Prabowo's term, posing a critical test for the former general who has been in office for less than a year.

He promised to investigate the death of the motorbike delivery rider Afan Kurniawan and provide assistance to his family. Seven police officers on the armored vehicle have been detained for further investigation.

This crisis forced Prabowo to cancel his scheduled trip to China next week to attend the World War II end commemorative parade, staying in the country to manage the situation.

Prabowo had promised to achieve rapid economic growth through state-led initiatives, but he is now facing protests against large-scale government budget cuts.

The report mentioned at the end that in response to these protests, the social media application TikTok stated on Saturday that it had temporarily closed its live streaming function in Indonesia "for several days." TikTok has over 100 million users in the country.

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1842015169134604/

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