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It’s crazy how every time there’s a student or worker protest in Indonesia the Dudbowo government wastes no time deploying the military. People could end up being killed again just like last year for exercising their basic democratic rights.

For those who want a bit more context: a massive student and worker protest is unfolding in Indonesia’s capital in response to the Prabowo government’s decision to raise fuel prices, alongside other policies that many Indonesians are calling corrupt because they deepen the burden on working-class Indonesians already struggling with rising living costs and a weakening rupiah. What’s fueling the anger even further is the broader feeling that economic pressure is being pushed downward onto ordinary people while major policy decisions continue to favour politicians and the ultra wealthy. Just last year, Indonesians protested over the same kind of government corruption, which led to a crackdown on its own civilians using military force in cities like Jakarta and Bandung, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries, including those of students. This situation, however, embarrassed the Probowo government, as people from all over the world began paying attention and massed mobilised to send food, medical/legal aid and financial donations via apps like Grab and Ojek (the region’s equivalent of Uber) the movement received particularly strong support from people across Asia, especially Southeast and East Asia, while also drawing contributions from around the world. This is why Indonesians are asking the world pay attention to their country again.