TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian diaspora in various countries is taking to the streets this week, urging the government to revoke a number of unjust policies. In Melbourne, Australia, hundreds of Indonesians joined Melbourne Bergerak in the 'People Taking Back Power' rally.
The crowd gathered at Federation Square, the heart of Melbourne, on Tuesday, September 2, from 04:30 p.m. to 07:00 p.m. local time. The protest is conducted in support of the series of demonstrations held in various regions since late August. Indonesians are rejecting the multiple raises of lawmakers' allowances amidst economic hardships.
The protest was joined by lecturers and students from various campuses, journalists, musicians, workers, and online taxi drivers. They raised posters with "brave pink" colors, which have been the symbol of the people's resistance ever since the brave actions of an Indonesian woman wearing a pink hijab drew attention on social media.
Armed with the Indonesian flag attached to a bamboo stick, the woman courageously faced police officers during a protest. This image quickly became the embodiment of the resistance, courage, and hope of the Indonesian people.
Coordinator of Melbourne Bergerak, Ulya Niami Jamson, said the image is a reminder of women's key role during protests against the authoritarian regime of former President Soeharto in 1998. "Suara Ibu Peduli (The Voice of Concerned Mothers) was instrumental in toppling Soeharto during the 1998 Reformation," said Pipin, Ulya's nickname, to Tempo via WhatsApp message on Wednesday, September 3, 2025.
Indonesian citizens staged the People Taking Back Power protest at Federation Square or Fed Square, Melbourne, Australia, on September 2, 2025. Doc. Melbourne Bergerak
According to Pipin, the protest is also part of the resistance against police brutality that ran rampant during the demonstrations, which have also claimed lives. They also condemn police violence while arresting protesters, while opposing the government's history rewrite project for sidelining grave human rights violations that occurred in 1998.
Melbourne Bergerak initiated the growing organic protest movement in the country. They involved students from various campuses, including the University of Melbourne, Monash University, RMIT University, and Victoria University.
Previously, they consolidated with a network of students and activists from various countries through Zoom meetings. The network was then named Bergerak Internasional. In addition to Melbourne Bergerak, there is Amerika Bergerak, Groningen Bergerak, the Association of Indonesian Society in Germany, Vancouver Bergerak, London Bergerak, and Gerakan Akar Rumput Indonesia (the Indonesian Grassroots Movement) in Singapore. Solidarity also came from the diaspora in Poland and Taiwan.
"Our spirit is the same, that is, taking action by staging protests," said Pipin.
One Piece Flag Remains Present During Protests
In Berlin, Germany, a protest against police brutality was held on Sunday near the Brandenburg Gate. The building serves as a symbol of national peace and the unity of the German state, which is a gathering place for people from various countries.
They brought the red and white flag as well as the pirate flag from the One Piece anime. The One Piece flag has been used as a symbol of protest and to express disappointment against the government through pop culture.
The demonstration with posters featuring Affan Kurniawan raised three primary demands, namely to stop police brutality, to fight against an unjust government, and to disband a corrupt parliament.
A member of the Association of Indonesian Society in Germany, Herlambang Bayu Aji, said the protest is part of a collective movement against police violence. The demonstrators, Indonesian citizens living in Berlin, also protested the government and corrupt members of parliament.
According to Bayu, they also call for resistance to the erasure and denial of history through a history rewriting project by the Ministry of Culture and demand that state officials who are unprofessional and make controversial statements step down. They also urged the government to cancel tax increases that burden the people.
"Cancel the increase in allowances for members of parliament when the people's economy is in a dire state," said Bayu, Herlambang's familiar name.
In the UK, a call for a demonstration through the London Bergerak poster has spread among the diaspora. Pink posters feature the demand to resolve the cases of civilian deaths as a result of repressive violence by state authorities.
The demonstration will take place at Russell Square Gardens, London WC1B 5EH, on Friday, September 5, at 02:30 p.m. local time. They also provide guidelines for safe actions.
Editor’s Choice: Brave Pink Hero Green: Trending Campaign on Indonesian Social Media
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
