Indonesian authorities detained 154 people following a night of violent clashes between protesters and security forces in Yogyakarta, a city southeast of the capital, a police spokeswoman confirmed Wednesday.
The unrest in Yogyakarta came on the heels of demonstrations held across several Indonesian cities on Tuesday, where citizens voiced grievances over the government’s management of the economy, its response to devastating wildfires, and stagnant wages.
Clashes Erupt Near Parliament
According to a police statement issued Wednesday, approximately 100 people gathered near Yogyakarta’s parliament building at around 8:00 pm local time (1300 GMT). The crowd directed firecrackers at the structure and threw rocks and Molotov cocktails toward the building.
Authorities responded by deploying tactical vehicles to disperse the crowd. Police reported seizing evidence from the scene, including six Molotov cocktails and 12 firecrackers.
An AFP reporter present at the scene observed officers firing tear gas and water cannon as they moved to break up the protest late Tuesday.
154 Detained as Investigation Begins
Yogyakarta police spokeswoman Novita Eka Sari said 154 people had been detained in connection with the unrest.
National Police Chief Suyudi Ario Seto, who inspected the scene early Wednesday, pledged a thorough investigation into the incident. “We will investigate whether… there were efforts to deliberately cause damage, whether there were other objectives,” Suyudi said.
Earlier Wage Protests Dispersed Peacefully
Earlier on Tuesday, hundreds of people had gathered near the governor’s office in Yogyakarta to call for higher minimum wages. That crowd dispersed before the violence broke out later in the day.
In Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city, protesters also took to the streets, citing concerns including wildfires and rising food prices.
The detentions in Yogyakarta mark one of the most significant police responses to the wave of demonstrations that swept across multiple Indonesian cities this week, reflecting growing public frustration over economic pressures and environmental management.
