Controversy over housing allowance, which is almost 10 times minimum wage, comes amid President Prabowo Subianto’s austerity drive
Riot police have fired water cannon and rounds of teargas at thousands of stone-throwing protesters in Indonesia’s capital as anger over the lavish allowances of parliament members has fuelled public anger.
Thousands of students, workers and activists demonstrated outside the nation’s parliament on Monday against a monthly housing allowance of 50 million rupiah ($US3,075) for MPs, which is almost 10 times the Jakarta minimum wage.
The demonstrators demanded the abolition of what they view as lavish allowances, which are in addition to lawmakers’ salaries.
They also protested against what they termed “corrupt elites” within the government and policies that benefit conglomerates and the military, according to a press releasee from student group, Gejayan Memanggil.
The statement was an apparent reference to the growing role of the military in civilian life under the government led by former general, Prabowo Subianto.
Indonesia passed a law in March allowing for the military to assume more civilian posts, while this month the government announced 100 new military battalions that will be trained in agriculture and animal husbandry. In July the government said the military would also start manufacturing pharmaceuticals.
Some demonstrators on Monday were seen on television footage carrying a flag from the Japanese manga series One Piece, which has become a symbol of protest against government policies in the country.
The anger comes amid strict austerity measures implemented by president Prabowo, including cuts to education, health and public works.
Police on Monday fired teargas as the protesters tried to approach the parliament, while protesters fought back by hurling rocks and bottles at riot police and setting fires under a flyover near the heavily guarded parliament compound.
Authorities blocked streets leading to the parliament building, including several toll roads, causing severe traffic jams in the city. More than 1,200 security personnel were deployed to secure the compound.
There were no immediate reports of injuries from the clash.
House speaker Puan Maharani told reporters on Saturday the allowances had been thoroughly considered and adjusted to current prices in Jakarta.
Graft is endemic in Indonesia and activists say police and members of parliament are perceived as being widely corrupt in the country of more than 280 million people.
Monday’s protest comes after violent demonstrations in Central Java and Sulawesi, where thousands gathered in recent weeks to protest hikes in property taxes.
Analysts say the sudden eruption of protests may indicate a new level of anger and dissent toward the Prabowo government.
