Hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) building in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Monday, 25 August 2025, as part of a civil society action calling itself the “Indonesian People’s Revolution”.
The protest was staged in opposition to the increase in allowances for DPR members at a time when the public faces challenging economic conditions.
According to various Indonesian media observations at 9:30 a.m. local time, demonstrators had begun arriving at the DPR’s main gate. Some chose to shelter under the pedestrian bridge and bus stop while waiting for others to join, while many recorded the situation to share via social media.
The crowd appeared to come from diverse backgrounds and was not visibly organised under a single group.
Dozens of online motorcycle taxi drivers also attended, parking their vehicles directly in front of the DPR gate.
Tensions rose when police attempted to move the drivers. “Don’t let them kick us out!” shouted one man in an online motorcycle taxi uniform. Another group of protesters, unhappy with the barriers erected outside the building, chanted: “Hey, they said they’d open the gate, it’s a lie, a lie!”
Police had earlier begun installing concrete barricades approximately 1.8 metres high across the entrance. As a result, traffic along Gatot Subroto Street slowed, with congestion forming as motorists reduced speed when passing the DPR complex.
Meanwhile, food and drink vendors set up stalls along the pavement, adding to the crowd. Police officers and Brimob personnel stood guard at several locations, including beneath the flyover near Senayan Park. The Jakarta Demonstration situation was described as tense but under control.
Jakarta Demonstration: Security Deployment and Symbolic Flags
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As reported by Kompas, The Jakarta Metropolitan Police confirmed that 1,250 joint personnel from the police, the Indonesian National Armed Forces, and the Jakarta Provincial Government had been deployed to secure the protest. Central Jakarta Police Chief, Commissioner Susatyo Purnomo Condro, explained that the security operation would prioritise a persuasive and humane approach.
“We want to ensure the event proceeds safely, orderly, and without disrupting other public activities. This security measure is implemented to facilitate the smooth expression of public aspirations,” he said after a readiness briefing. He added that personnel on duty were not equipped with firearms.
Before deployment, officers attended a Tactical Wall Game (TWG) exercise and briefing at 8:00 a.m. to ensure coordination on risk assessments and security measures.
As the morning turned into noon, the atmosphere around the DPR/MPR complex became more chaotic. Demonstrators gathered at the black fence of the parliamentary compound, carrying posters, flags, and banners.
Alongside the Indonesian Red and White flag, several protesters raised a flag featuring a skull with a straw hat, commonly associated with the Japanese manga and anime series One Piece.
The so-called Jolly Roger flag was displayed at the entrance gate next to the official barriers. Protesters set fire to cardboard and rubbish on the barricades, while one speaker climbed on top of the barrier, waving both the Red and White flag and the One Piece flag.
Placards carried by demonstrators included messages such as: “Dissolve the DPR, a burden on the nation”, and “The burden on the nation is not teachers but the DPR, dissolve the DPR.”
The demonstration had been widely circulated on social media in the days prior. The organisers, under the banner of the “Indonesian People’s Revolution”, demanded that the allowance increase for DPR members be cancelled and criticised other government policies seen as harmful to the public.
With concrete barricades in place, hundreds of officers deployed, and protesters voicing strong opposition, Monday’s demonstration highlighted growing discontent at a time of economic strain. The situation around the DPR building remained under close police watch as the day continued.
