A demonstration in Indramayu drew public attention after protesters threw snakes outside the Indramayu Pendopo during a rally criticising local government policies.
Members of the Straw Hat Alliance staged the protest on Thursday, 7 May 2026. The group gathered in front of the regency office to raise concerns over environmental management, education, and economic conditions in the area.
During the protest, demonstrators released snakes from sacks and threw them near officers guarding the location.
According to the protesters, the action was intended as criticism directed at Indramayu Regent Lucky Hakim.
The protest coordinator, Rakhmat Hidayat, said the snake-throwing referred to a previous initiative by the regent involving snakes in rice fields for pest control.
Rakhmat said the protesters considered the policy symbolic rather than effective in addressing local problems faced by residents.
“This symbolic snake-throwing is a form of our criticism of policies that seem symbolic. The community needs solutions that truly impact them,” he said.
According to Rakhmat, the demonstration reflected public disappointment over several unresolved issues in the regency.
Videos of the protest later circulated widely on social media, attracting public discussion because of the unusual protest method.
Waste Management and Public Services Become Main Issues
Environmental concerns became one of the main issues raised during the demonstration.
Protesters claimed that several waste disposal sites in Indramayu were not operating properly because rubbish collection was inconsistent. According to demonstrators, piles of uncollected waste had created additional problems for residents in several areas.
The protesters also criticised a number of local government programmes included in the regional Accountability Report, known locally as the LKPJ.
According to the demonstrators, several programmes did not reflect conditions experienced directly by residents.
The group called on local authorities to improve public services and provide policies that addressed environmental, educational, and economic concerns more effectively.
Rakhmat said the protesters were disappointed because they were not able to meet the officials they intended to address during the rally.
He also stated that the snakes used during the protest were not dangerous.
As reported by local media, the snakes thrown during the protest included Xenochrophis vittatus, commonly known by local residents as kisik snakes, as well as paddy snakes.
The protesters described the action as symbolic criticism towards the regional administration and the current conditions in the regency.
According to Rakhmat, the snake-throwing represented satire directed at what protesters considered limited changes in local governance.
@soloposofficialPuluhan Ular dilepaskan massa di area gerbang utama Pendopo Kabupaten Indramayu, Kamis (7/5/2026), saat aksi demonstrasi berlangsung. Aksi tersebut dilakukan massa Aliansi Topi Jerami yang mendesak dugaan korupsi di tubuh PDAM Indramayu senilai Rp39,6 miliar segera diusut. Massa melepaskan ular karena kecewa tidak ada perwakilan pemerintah yang menemui para demonstran selama aksi berlangsung.
Police Confirm Demonstration Ended Peacefully
The Head of Public Relations for the Indramayu Police, AKP Tarno, stated that the protest proceeded peacefully until it concluded.
“We, along with other joint officers, immediately caught the snakes thrown by the protesters,” he said.
Police officers quickly secured the animals after they were thrown near the guarded area. Authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported during the demonstration.
The protest eventually dispersed without major disturbances.
The incident later became widely discussed online after videos from the demonstration spread across social media platforms.
Public reactions focused both on the protesters’ method of demonstration and the issues raised during the rally, particularly waste management and local public services.
The Indramayu protest also reflected how symbolic actions are sometimes used during demonstrations in Indonesia to attract attention to political and social concerns.
