Hundreds of women dressed in pink and carrying broomsticks marched to parliament in Jakarta on Wednesday to protest police abuses and government spending.
The demonstrations, now in their second week, have been driven by anger over living costs and lawmakers’ perks, and were further inflamed after motorcycle taxi driver Affan Kurniawan was killed when he was struck by a police vehicle.
At the rally, members of the Indonesian Women’s Alliance (IWA) said the broomsticks symbolised their push to “sweep away the dirt of the state, militarism and police repression.”
Protesters carried signs demanding police reform, while others wore green in solidarity with Affan. Online, the colours have been adopted as “hero green” and “brave pink.”
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The protests have drawn international concern. The UN called for “prompt, thorough, and transparent investigations” into allegations of abuse, while Amnesty International urged the government to meet protesters’ demands before more casualties occur.
President Prabowo Subianto has announced cuts to some political perks, but critics say this is not enough.
“It is not only about one issue, but about long-standing concerns with inequality, governance and accountability,” said former student leader Herianto.
“The ultimate goal is to push for a more accountable, transparent, and people-centred governance.”
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