The Indonesian Civil Society Coalition wishes to convey several things:
1. President Prabowo Subianto and the leaders of political parties have failed to understand or respond appropriately to the socio-political and economic dynamics which led to public anger lately through demonstrations in various regions. This is not just a matter of statements by House of Representatives (DPR) members who do not show any empathy with the people's suffering due to policies that are not pro-people, so the only solution offered was to deactivate members of the DPR from various parties.
2. The institutions in the Civil Society Coalition that have been assisting the public directly, conducting research, public education and criticising the course taken by the government and the state, see that this is an accumulation of various issues that lead to a waste of public money and corrupt actions in the interests of state officials in the midst of the people's difficulties. Salary arrangements and allowances for state officials, members of the DPR, directors and commissioners of state-owned enterprises (BUMN) are very high and very far from the average income of the ordinary people. Budget management, efficiency measures and reckless taxes have made it difficult for the people, the theft and destruction of people's living space that occurs systematically through government or investment projects. As well as various forms of other social inequality and injustice which are daily faced by the people. The Coalition urges the government and the DPR to understand these structural problems correctly and precisely, not to close its ears, divert attention and provide fake or misguided solutions.
3. The president and the leaders of political parties also failed to understand the savage acts of repression and brutality by the state apparatus in dealing with demonstrations. The president did not even convey a correction or order to guarantee freedom of expression according to international human rights standards, namely the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The President also did not acknowledge the demands for justice by the people and for the reform of the Indonesian police as a condition to move forward and changes to ensure respect for and protection of the public. Prabowo instead headed in the direction of new repression by saying that demonstrators were committing treason and terrorism, obviously this endangers the entire nation and the lives of the Indonesian people. The president should form an independent team led by the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) and involving independent institutions as well as experts and representatives of civil society groups to uncover the truth behind the allegations of violence and the riots that occurred.
4. President Prabowo was even more mistaken by ordering the Indonesian Military (TNI) to be involved in security affairs, where the TNI, in accordance with the mandate of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, the TNI Law and the Defence Law, are state instruments for defence functions.
5. In this short time we also urge that all demonstrators who have been arrested and detained be released unconditionally, and that all victims of violence by the state apparatus be rehabilitated and provided with maximum restitution.
With respect,
Civil Society Coalition
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Menyikapi pernyataan Prabowo bersama dengan pimpinan lembaga negara partai politik (31 Agustus 2025)".]
