September 3, 2025 | 07:33 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Labor Movement Together with the People (Gebrak) will hold a demonstration on Thursday, September 4, 2025, at the Arjuna Wijaya Horse Statue in Central Jakarta. The protest will feature a replica of a rat wearing a tie, symbolizing corrupt officials.
According to Unang Sunarno, the chairperson of the Confederation of the Indonesian Trade Union Alliance (KASBI), the rat statue represents the government’s failure to fight corruption and its unwillingness to enact laws that benefit the people.
"We are presenting it as a form of state failure in combating corruption and the lack of willingness to enact people-friendly laws," Unang said. KASBI is a member organization of Gebrak.
Key Demands
Unang noted that Gebrak will also present 14 demands to the government of President Prabowo Subianto, five of which are considered top priorities.
These demands include calls for authorities to cease repressive actions against demonstrators, and for the police to immediately release all protesters who have been detained over the week-long demonstrations.
Other key demands are to lower the tax burden on citizens, reduce the skyrocketing prices of basic necessities, and promptly pass the Draft Law on Asset Confiscation.
Unang explained that Gebrak is urging President Prabowo and the House of Representatives (DPR) to address these five demands without delay, as a demonstration of their commitment to serving the people.
"The government must declare a commitment to always listen to the aspirations of the people by promptly realizing these demands," Unang said.
Protests Persist
Demonstrations in Jakarta and other regions across the country have been ongoing since Monday, August 25. The initial protests were a response to the excessively high allowances for DPR members, which were viewed as inappropriate given the economic hardships faced by many citizens.
The protests escalated on Thursday, August 28, 2025, when a police tactical vehicle ran over a motorcycle taxi driver named Affan Kurniawan.
On Sunday, August 31, after a meeting with party and legislative leaders, President Prabowo decided to withdraw the housing allowance for DPR members and impose a moratorium on official international visits.
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