'Honk Your Horn If You Are Tired of Being an Indonesian Citizen', Peaceful Protest at UGM Roundabout as Citizens Protest to Government

A poster reading ‘Honk Your Horn If You Are Tired of Being an Indonesian Citizen’ caught the attention of motorists passing through the UGM Roundabout, Yogyakarta, on Friday afternoon (5/6/2026). The poster was part of a peaceful protest titled ‘Surrendering Being an Indonesian Citizen but Loving Indonesia’, organised by the civil group Suara Ibu Indonesia alongside various community elements.

Through this action, participants sought to sound an alarm regarding the increasing anxiety among citizens concerning the economic situation and the direction of government policy. Throughout the protest, several motorists were seen honking their horns in response to the message conveyed by the protesters.

In addition to the poster inviting motorists to honk, the organisers provided a ‘Box of Anxiety’ to collect citizens’ grievances, as well as a game board titled the ‘Revolution Board’ as a medium to express unrest regarding various social, economic, and political issues.

Marsinah, the Public Relations officer for Suara Ibu Yogyakarta, stated that the current economic condition felt by the community is one of the primary reasons for the protest. According to her, the lower-middle class is the group most heavily impacted by an economic situation that is perceived to be worsening.

“Today, we are anxious about the increasingly worsening economic situation. While it is true that this situation has not yet erupted, in the context of the community, the most affected are the lower-middle economic classes, and the impact is massive,” Marsinah said when met at the Upson UGM Roundabout, Yogyakarta, on Friday (5/6/2026).

She assessed that the public is continuously faced with various issues, ranging from the weakening of the Rupiah exchange rate and taxation policies for MSMEs to economic governance that is considered heavily laden with political intervention. She noted that these conditions have led to increased economic inequality and rising prices of basic necessities, which are felt directly by the people.

“We know that today we are being shocked; it feels like every day we are surprised. One issue is the Dollar, which seems increasingly uncontrollable, and the second is the MSME tax, which is suffocating,” she added.