Students march as prices rise and the rupiah sinks

About 1,500 students marched in Jakarta on Friday, 12 June, angry about rising prices and a falling currency. Wearing the yellow jackets of their universities, they walked to the National Monument after Friday prayers under a banner reading "Heading to Bankrupt Indonesia." As Al Jazeera reports, the government deployed around 6,000 police and soldiers, a heavy response that recalled protests last August in which at least 13 people died.

The anger has clear roots. The rupiah had fallen to about 18,000 to the US dollar, down from 16,000 in March, which pushes up the cost of imported goods. On top of that, prices were pushed up further by a 32 percent increase the government brought in that same week. The students listed five demands, including cheaper fuel and food and an end to what they called wasteful spending, naming Prabowo's free-meals program and his village cooperatives. They also called for the military to stay out of civilian affairs.

The protesters wanted the government to admit the problem. "The government is in denial about the current situation," said one organiser, Yatalathof Ma'shum Imawan. "We urge Prabowo to have the courage to acknowledge his mistake." Another student, Rafael Arreva, argued that heavy spending on free meals had forced the government to pull back subsidies that people relied on. The march was small, but it tapped into a wider unease about where the economy is heading.

Why it matters

If you are a student, worker, or anyone feeling the pinch of higher prices, these protests show you are not alone, and they put pressure on the government to respond. The mix of a record-low currency, sudden price rises, and a heavy security presence is a sign of real strain, and past protests have turned deadly. Watch whether the government eases prices or digs in, because that choice will shape how tense the coming months feel.