Surabaya Civil Society Protest Continues into the Night, Dispersed by Authorities

A protest criticising the policies of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka took place in Surabaya, in front of the East Java Governor’s office at Gedung Negara Grahadi, on Friday (26/6). The action continued into the evening. As of around 7.50 p.m. local time, protesters were still gathered near the front of Gedung Negara Grahadi, and police were attempting to disperse them. The protesters expressed frustration that no representative from the East Java Provincial Government had met with them. “From the start, no government representative has met with us,” said Septia, a spokesperson for the #IndonesiaSekarat protest, during a speech. As night fell, police issued a warning over a loudspeaker, urging the crowd to maintain order and disperse. “To the protesters, we urge you to be orderly, once again we urge you to be orderly, protesters please be orderly and then disperse,” a police commander said over the loudspeaker. However, the crowd, mostly dressed in black, threw objects towards the Grahadi compound. By 7.00 p.m., around a hundred protesters remained. Police forces were subsequently deployed to disperse the crowd. A water cannon sprayed the protesters, and several individuals were detained. After successfully pushing the crowd back from directly in front of the State Building, police blockaded the road leading to Grahadi. According to detikJatim, by 7.30 p.m., a police barricade consisting of water cannon trucks and shield-bearing public order officers (Dalmas) continued to advance from under a pedestrian bridge. The remaining protesters in front of Alun-alun Surabaya scattered and fled as police began to chase them. The protest’s 11 demands were: 1. Lower the prices of basic necessities and fuel. 2. Stop the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme and the Red and White Village Cooperatives. 3. Revoke the National Police Law and the Indonesian Military Law. 4. Create decent employment opportunities. 5. Dissolve the Territorial Command and stop military involvement in civilian affairs. 6. Halt the Surabaya Waterfront Land reclamation. 7. Release all political prisoners and restore their good names. 8. Prioritise the education and health budgets. 9. Create and expand decent, inclusive, and free public transportation. 10. Dissolve Parliament and build people’s power. 11. End private ownership of the means of production.