Parliament buildings set ablaze, TikTok suspends live video as unrest escalates nationwide
Indonesia is facing a surge of violent protests that have spread far beyond Jakarta, prompting President Prabowo Subianto to cancel a planned state visit to China and focus on managing the crisis at home.
Prabowo Cancels China Visit
On Saturday (Aug 30), President Prabowo Subianto announced the cancellation of his trip to China, where he had been scheduled to attend the Victory Day parade on September 3. The decision came as violent demonstrations, triggered by public anger over lawmakers’ allowances and exacerbated by a fatal police incident, intensified across Indonesia. Presidential spokesperson Prasetyo Hadi said Prabowo wanted to “monitor the situation directly and seek the best solutions.” Another factor was his upcoming commitment to the United Nations General Assembly in September.
TikTok Suspends Live Feature
Amid the unrest, short-video platform TikTok, owned by China’s ByteDance, suspended its live-streaming feature in Indonesia for several days. Authorities had earlier summoned representatives of TikTok and Meta, pressing them to tighten content moderation as disinformation spread online, allegedly fueling the protests.
Fires and Fatalities Across Provinces
The demonstrations escalated violently on Saturday, with protesters torching regional parliament buildings in West Nusa Tenggara, Pekalongan in Central Java, and Cirebon in West Java. Local outlet Detik.com reported looting of parliamentary equipment in Cirebon, while police deployed tear gas in multiple locations to restore order.
The most severe incident occurred on Friday in Makassar, South Sulawesi, where three people died in an arson attack on a parliament building. State news agency Antara reported that the victims were trapped inside, while two others sustained injuries after jumping from the burning structure. Another local report suggested a fourth death, though it remains unconfirmed.
Violence Reaches Bali and Jakarta
The unrest extended to Bali, where authorities also resorted to tear gas against demonstrators. In Jakarta, protesters stormed and looted the home of Ahmad Sahroni, a lawmaker from the NasDem Party. Items including household furniture were reportedly stolen. Sahroni has drawn public ire for dismissing critics who demanded the dissolution of parliament, labeling them “the stupidest people in the world.”
A Growing Test for Prabowo’s Leadership
The protests mark the first major political challenge for Prabowo’s nearly year-old administration. What began as anger over parliamentary perks has quickly spiraled into nationwide violence, exacerbated by disinformation, local grievances, and clashes with security forces. The government now faces the dual task of restoring order while addressing deep-rooted discontent.
Indonesia’s escalating protests, which have left multiple deaths and parliament buildings in flames, are testing President Prabowo’s leadership at a critical time. With social media platforms under pressure and public frustration mounting, the unrest is being closely watched not only in Indonesia but also in neighboring countries like Singapore, which has strong political and economic ties to Jakarta. The developments underscore the fragile balance between governance, accountability, and public trust in Southeast Asia’s largest democracy.
Sources: CNA (2025) , CNN (2025)
Keywords: Indonesia Protests, Prabowo Subianto, China Trip Cancellation, TikTok Live Suspension, Regional Parliament Fires, Ahmad Sahroni
