President Prabowo Subianto speaking about the recent wave of nationwide protests during a press conference on Aug 31 alongside political party leaders at the State Palace in Jakarta. - AFP
JAKARTA: While President Prabowo Subianto on Sunday (Aug 31) announced big concessions to roll back some legislative perks that incensed public opinion, he also instructed authorities to crack down on “treasonous” and “terrorist” elements in an attempt to diffuse the nation’s worst bout of rioting in years.
Public frustration over tone-deaf lawmakers and their high remuneration, as well as the tragic killing of a young man by an armoured police vehicle, has boiled over into the streets over the weekend as rioting spread to some of the country’s biggest cities.
