September 3, 2025
JAKARTA – Conditions in many regions have begun to stabilize after days of nationwide protests over lawmakers’ lavish salaries and allegations of police brutality, though scattered demonstrations are still taking place in several cities.
Bali Governor I Wayan Koster has confirmed that all activities on the island have returned to normal following a protest on Saturday at the Bali Police Headquarters and the Bali Legislative Council Office, during which police reportedly used tear gas to disperse demonstrators.
“Bali is now very safe, conducive and peaceful. We invite both domestic and international tourists to visit and enjoy its natural beauty, warm hospitality and rich cultural heritage,” he said on Tuesday.
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Despite massive unrest across the country, Bali’s tourism industry remains largely unaffected, according to Perry Markus, Secretary of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) Bali Chapter.
“There hasn’t been a significant impact. A few hotels have reported minor cancellations, but nothing substantial,” Perry said, adding that most tourist activity continues as usual.
Order has also returned to Jakarta, the epicenter of last week’s protests and unrest, which left more than 450 people injured across the city.
“The situation in Jakarta has returned to normal, and all public transportation services have resumed operations since Monday, although several stations remain out of service,” Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung said on Tuesday as reported by Kompas.com.
Over the weekend, the city’s bus rapid transit operator TransJakarta suspended all services after seven bus stations were torched and 22 others vandalized during days of violent demonstrations. MRT Jakarta also halted some of its operations after rioters damaged one of its stations.
To support residents in the aftermath of the unrest, Governor Pramono announced that TransJakarta, MRT and LRT services will be free of charge until September 8.
The protest began in Jakarta on Aug. 25, where demonstrators protested lawmakers’ lavish housing allowances and perceived arrogance. The unrest then spread nationwide after a motorcycle taxi (ojol) driver was fatally run over by a police tactical vehicle on Thursday night during the demonstrations.
Amid the unrest, protesters set fire to Regional Representative Council (DPRD) buildings in three provinces and looted the homes of several public officials, including the private residence of Finance Minister Sri Mulyani.
According to the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), at least 20 people have been reported missing during the protests in Jakarta, Bandung and Depok in West Java.
The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) reported on Tuesday that at least 11 people have died across the country during the week-long nationwide protests .
Among the victims were two university students: Iko Juliant Junior, a 19-year-old law student at the University of Semarang (UNNES), and Rheza Sendy Pratama, a 21-year-old student from Amikom University in Yogyakarta. Both are suspected to have died as a result of police violence.
Protests have continued across multiple cities on Monday and Tuesday, though they have remained largely peaceful.
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In Palembang, South Sumatra, hundreds of students gathered in front of the South Sumatra DPRD building on Monday, calling for the cancellation of the lawmakers’ housing allowances, the immediate passage of the Asset Forfeiture Bill, a review of President Prabowo Subianto‘s expensive free meal program, the release of all detained protesters and firm action against officers responsible for violence against demonstrators.
The rally ended peacefully after South Sumatra DPRD Speaker Andie Dinialdie took an oath on the Quran, pledging to deliver the students’ demands to the central government.
A similar demonstration was held in Jayapura, Papua, where more than a hundred students gathered in front of the DPRD Papua building on Monday. That protest also concluded without incident.