Indonesians rally against cuts
Thousands of Indonesians rallied across the country to oppose budget cuts by President Prabowo Subianto’s government, which are intended to fund a free-meal program and other major campaign promises. (Image credits: AP)
'Dark Indonesia'
Austerity measures announced by Prabowo in late January triggered mass student protests across Indonesian cities earlier this week, driven by the social media movement "Dark Indonesia." Protesters gathered in several cities, including Jakarta and Surabaya, the country’s second-largest city. (Image credits: AP)
Budget cuts strain civil servants
The president ordered budget cuts to save 306.7 trillion rupiah ($18.8 billion) by reducing office expenses, ceremonies, and business trips, forcing some civil servants to work under minimal lighting and strict energy-saving conditions. (Image credits: AP)
Prabowo plans $46B fund shift
Prabowo, who took office in October, aims to raise around $46 billion through spending cuts and state-owned enterprise dividends. Analysts believe the cuts are intended to fund initiatives like the $4.3 billion free-meal program for schoolchildren to fight stunted growth and a new sovereign wealth fund. (Image credits: AP)
Online hashtags fuel protests
Calls to join anti-austerity protests gained traction on social media this week, with suggestions to skip work on Friday. Netizens widely used the hashtags #IndonesiaGelap and #DarkIndonesia to amplify their message. (Image credits: AP)
Demonstrators criticize ‘Fat Cabinet’
In Surabaya, East Java, hundreds of students and NGO workers in black T-shirts gathered in front of the local council office, holding banners that read "Bad Grades for the Fat Cabinet" and "One President, Multiple Incidents," while police stood watch. (Image credits: AP)
State secretary promises action
State secretary Prasetyo Hadi met with the demonstrators and promised to relay their demands to the government. (Image credits: AP)
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