Jakarta Student Protests Erupt Over Fuel Price Hike and Rupiah Slide

Roughly 1,500 students marched in central Jakarta against President Prabowo Subianto's economic policies, demanding a rollback of a 32% fuel price increase and criticizing currency depreciation against the US dollar, Malaysian ringgit, and Chinese yuan. Authorities deployed some 6,000 police and military personnel to contain the demonstration. Protesters also cited mismanaged spending on the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program — days after the arrest of its former director on corruption charges — as evidence of fiscal mismanagement. The protest marked the first major wave of unrest since the deadly August 2025 demonstrations.