In brief
In Jakarta on Saturday, workers rallied in support of President Prabowo Subianto as police accused of illegal wiretapping him faced scrutiny, while a separate march of women opposed his wildfire management, free‑meal programme and sanitary‑product tax. Top union officials pledged unity, and civil‑society groups demanded improved women’s rights and policy reforms.
Hundreds of workers assembled in Jakarta on Saturday to rally behind President Prabowo Subianto after police were accused of illegally intercepting his communications.
Labor Party Chairperson Said Iqbal, a senior adviser to the president, addressed the crowd, urging union members nationwide to stand together for Prabowo’s leadership.
Iqbal said: Said Iqbal
"We can mobilise members of our organisation across every town, every factory. We are prepared to respond at any moment to maintain order should any unrest arise, whether instigated by foreign interests or by individuals seeking to cause trouble."
Police officials named four senior officers, including a former chief noted as a loyalist of former President Joko Widodo, as suspects in the alleged contact‑intercept scheme.
Jokowi, Prabowo’s predecessor and former backer, stated he respected the legal process as investigations continued.
At the same time, a separate demonstration was held by civil‑society groups and women across Jakarta, marching to demand greater women’s rights and to protest the administration’s handling of prolonged wildfires, a costly free‑meal programme, and a tax on women’s sanitary products.
Recent protests in Jakarta and other cities, including student rallies last week, have underscored growing public discontent with Prabowo’s populist policies and perceived weakening of investor confidence in Indonesia’s economy.
