The Solidarity Network for Workers’ Rights (SNWR) stands strongly with Indonesia’s working class, youth, and poor peasants who have taken to the streets in courageous resistance against a corrupt and anti-people capitalist government.

Protests have erupted across Indonesia since last week following revelations that 580 lawmakers awarded themselves an outrageous monthly allowance of $3,075 (around 50 million rupiah) in addition to their already bloated salaries. This scandalous move exposes once again the shameless greed of the ruling class led by Prabowo Subianto, who continue to enrich themselves while millions of ordinary Indonesians endure deepening poverty, unemployment, and skyrocketing living costs.

Yet, instead of the regime listening to the genuine demands of the protesters, the regime has unleashed brutal repression. Reports confirm that at least 8 people have been killed as the protests intensified, a stain on the hands of the government and its security forces.

We condemn these killings in the strongest terms. The use of excessive violence and state terror to silence legitimate dissent is unacceptable. The Indonesian people’s struggle is not isolated; it reflects a global wave of anger against corrupt ruling elites that enrich themselves while workers and ordinary citizens suffer.

The Solidrity Network for Workers’ Rights (SNWR) condemns this shameful act and stands in full solidarity with the protesting masses. We urge the working people of Indonesia to raise the banner higher and resist not only this outrageous allowance increase but also the entire framework of neoliberal policies that prioritise profit over human need.

SNWR also calls for an immediate end to the repression and killings of protesters. We demand justice and accountability for all those killed and injured. The people must have the right to organise, demonstrate, and strike without intimidation and fear of being killed. Corruption and the looting of public wealth by the ruling class must end. All arrested protesters and political prisoners must be released unconditionally without delay. Above all, the struggle must be directed toward building a genuine workers’ democracy to replace the rule of corrupt politicians and oligarchs.

Workers and youth should get organised and put forward a political program of nationalisation of key industries, banks, and natural resources under democratic workers’ control and management. The struggle must be taken further to demand an end to austerity, real wage increases for workers, expanded public spending on healthcare, education, and housing, and a democratic, planned economy that serves the people rather than the wealthy elite.

The protests sweeping the country show the anger of the oppressed. But anger alone is not enough. We need to organise, mobilise, and fight collectively for a socialist alternative that puts the wealth of Indonesia under the democratic control of workers and the poor. The fight must culminate in the building of a mass workers’ party rooted in trade unions, youth, and communities to challenge capitalist rule and lay the foundations of a socialist society.

We call on workers, activists, trade unions, and socialist organisations across the world to stand in solidarity with the struggle in Indonesia. Their fight is our fight, against exploitation, against corruption, and against governments that serve the interests of the rich at the expense of the poor.

Daniel Akande,

Publicity Secretary,

Solidarity Network for Workers’ Rights (SNWR)