27 August Rally Must Not Open Cracks to Weaken Indonesia

Jakarta, VIVA – The planned mass rally on 27 August 2026 in front of the DPR/MPR RI building is considered to need to be viewed more broadly, not only as domestic political dynamics but also in the context of increasingly complex geopolitical rivalry.

A number of community groups are reported to be planning to convey demands related to the acceleration of the passage of the Asset Forfeiture Bill and the eradication of corruption. At the same time, information indicates that another group will also express its views in Jakarta regarding support for the programmes of the Prabowo-Gibran administration.

Activist Eli Salomo of the 98 Resolution Network considers that public rallies to express aspirations are part of democracy and must be respected.

However, in his view, the government and the public also need to be wary of the possibility of parties attempting to exploit gaps within that democratic space for the interests of their own groups or even for the interests of other countries.

“Demonstrations and criticism of the government are part of democracy and have become a commitment of the Prabowo-Gibran administration to protect them, but what needs to be watched out for is when aspirations that are actually aimed at improving the condition of the nation instead become mixed with the interests of other parties to create uncertainty,” said Eli in a written statement on Wednesday, 26 August 2026.

According to Eli, the consequence of global openness and the war of influence among major countries over control of other nations is that every effort to dominate is carried out, ranging from negotiation to creating unstable conditions through opinion formation, amplification of information on social media, disinformation, provocation, and the exploitation of domestic conflict.

“A proxy does not always take the form of an armed actor. In the era of information warfare, society, social media and political conflict can become arenas of influence contestation,” he said.

“President Prabowo is fully aware that the implementation of the Asta Cita programme requires appropriate foreign policy actions. We are no longer an object of global affairs but must become a subject. We do not position ourselves as supporting one global bloc, but we build collaboration with countries of the world for the realisation of our national interests. The geopolitical position of Indonesia shown by President Prabowo is that Indonesia is a sovereign nation, not a nation with an inferior mentality,” he said.