The situation in Jakarta and several other Indonesian cities returned to normal on Sunday, August 31, following a week of anti-government and anti-parliament protests.
The rallies, which began on August 25, were sparked by public anger over a new monthly allowance for parliament members. Protests escalated into clashes with police and military forces in several cities, including Bandung, Surabaya, and Bali.
In Jakarta, the unrest turned deadly after an online motorcycle taxi driver was run over and killed by a police tactical vehicle on August 28 prompting widespread anger and more intense clashes.
Public facilities such as bus shelters and toll road gates in Jakarta, as well as parliamentary buildings and police stations in other cities, were damaged. No tourism-related facilities were reported to be affected. Security measures were increased to ensure airports remained operational.
In response, president Prabowo Subianto announced that some government-funded perks for members of parliament would be reversed, including the size of certain allowances. A moratorium on overseas trips for lawmakers will also be imposed.
However, Prabowo warned that some protests had gone beyond peaceful demonstration and could be considered “treason and terrorism”, ordering the police and armed forces to take strong action against looting and property damage.
While tensions were high in Jakarta’s city centre, other parts of the capital operated normally. The Astindo Travel Fair and the soft opening of the Nusantara International Convention and Exhibition (NICE) went ahead over the weekend.
Pauline Suharno, president of Astindo, said: “The fair ran on schedule with high visitor interest, particularly during cash-back sessions, although the floor was a bit quiet in the evenings.”
Ryan Adrian, managing director of NICE, said: “The opening event, Ionation-Workout and Wellness Festival, was successful. The event went well despite the unfavourable situation. The event organiser told me they were happy to receive 7,300 participants, out of the 9,000 targeted.”
Travel and tourism industry representatives remain optimistic. Ricky Setyawanto, director of business development for Panorama Destination, said they had received no emergency requests from guests to leave the country early.
“We have 47 Java-Bali overland trips scheduled for September and we hope the situation will remain stable,” he added.
Police data indicates more rallies are planned, but increased security is expected to keep future demonstrations peaceful.
