Riot police fired tear gas at thousands of students marching toward Indonesia’s Parliament on Monday.
Students protested against what they called excessive allowances granted to members of Parliament.
Demonstrators hurled bottles and rocks at police and set fires under a flyover near the compound.
Authorities deployed more than 1,200 security personnel to secure the heavily guarded Parliament area.
Officials blocked toll roads and surrounding streets, triggering severe traffic congestion across Jakarta.
Anger Over Housing Allowances
Protesters condemned reports that 580 lawmakers have received monthly housing allowances of 50 million rupiah since September 2024.
They described the payments as unfair amid widespread economic hardship in the country.
The housing allowance alone equals nearly 20 times the minimum monthly wage in poorer regions.
Lawmakers already receive salaries, but protesters demand abolition of additional benefits they see as lavish.
House Speaker Puan Maharani defended the payments, saying officials adjusted them to current Jakarta living costs.
Corruption Concerns Fuel Protests
Activists claim corruption runs deep in Indonesia’s political and law enforcement institutions.
They argue citizens widely view lawmakers and police as corrupt in the nation of over 280 million people.
The student-led demonstrations highlight growing frustration with political privilege and lack of accountability.
No injuries were immediately reported during Monday’s violent clashes in the capital.
