President Prabowo Subianto Greenlights Independent Probe into August Riots Amid Rising Public Outcry

Jakarta, Indonesia – In a move that underscores mounting tensions between civil society and state authorities, President Prabowo Subianto has officially approved the formation of an independent committee to investigate the riots that broke out across multiple regions in August. The decision, announced following a high-profile meeting with interfaith leaders and human rights advocates, comes in response to widespread demands for accountability and transparency in the wake of violent unrest.

During a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, former Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, speaking for the National Conscience Movement (Gerakan Nurani Bangsa, GNB), urged for a probe to distinguish between legitimately peaceful demonstrations and the outbreak of violent riots. He emphasized that many student-led and activist protests, initially peaceful, later escalated — often by evening — into riots, arson, looting, and injuries. Saifuddin said 10 people are confirmed dead, including a delivery driver, Affan Kurniawan, who was reported run over by a police vehicle on 28 August. His death, among others, fueled further waves of protest and public outcry. (Sources: ANTARA)

President Prabowo responded positively to the proposal. According to Saifuddin, the president welcomed the idea and committed to defining a mechanism for the investigation committee. He assured that the committee would be independent, staffed by professionals free from vested interests, with “strong authority to carry out its functions effectively.” The details of who will appoint the members, the scope of the mandate, and the timeline, however, have been left for later determination. (ANTARA)

The independent probe is expected to delve into multiple dimensions of the unrest. These include:

• Determining triggers: how initial peaceful protests transitioned into violent confrontations.
• Accounting for casualties, including deaths and serious injuries.
• Evaluating economic loss and damage to infrastructure.
• Assessing possible misconduct by law enforcement agencies, including use of force and crowd control methods.
• Recording psychological trauma and other social impacts.
• Reviewing government follow-up actions and any failures in enforcing legal protections.

Central to the demand is whether demonstrations over cost of living, rising inequality, public dissatisfaction with perks of lawmakers, and perceived unresponsiveness of political institutions were met with disproportionate force. Among the focal points of criticism has been the death of Affan Kurniawan and many reports of alleged abuses during the crackdown. (ANTARA)

Civil society actors and national religious leaders—among them former first lady Sinta Nuriyah Wahid, Muslim scholar Quraish Shihab, Jakarta Archbishop Ignatius Suharyo, Buddhist monk Pannyavaro Mahathera, and Jesuit priest Franz Magnis-Suseno—participated in the meeting, signaling broad-based concern beyond political opposition. (ANTARA)

The move aligns with wider calls for institutional reform. Also relevant is the formation by six human rights agencies of a fact-finding team, independent of government appointment, which will examine not just the events themselves but also victims’ plight—women, children, persons with disabilities—as well as damages to property and public infrastructure. (ANTARA)

Observers say that the approval of this investigation may serve as a political turning point. It could help restore public trust if executed transparently, or conversely, intensify criticism if perceived as a shallow concession. Lawyers associations and human rights watchers have cautioned that the true test lies in the independence of the appointed committee, its access to evidence, protection for witnesses, and whether its findings will lead to accountability.

While the government has agreed to revoke some controversial perks for members of parliament, including lavish housing allowances and overseas travel privileges, protests over economic distress and perceived elitism in government remain potent. The probe’s success—or failure—may become a bellwether for Indonesia’s democratic resilience. (Related: government’s response to Affan’s death; demands by “17+8” movement.)

As Jakarta awaits the formal announcement of the committee’s composition and methodology, both domestic and international attention is focused on whether this independent probe will provide the clarity and justice demanded by victims and civil society, and signal a shift in the balance between state power and citizens’ rights in Indonesia.