Police arrest 24 in Surabaya as protests against Prabowo's fuel price hike spread across Indonesian cities

Summary

Indonesian police detained 24 demonstrators in Surabaya on June 27 after a protest against President Prabowo's 30% rise in non-subsidised gasoline prices and the administration's free-meals programme turned disorderly, with some protesters hurling rocks and burning rubbish near the East Java provincial government building. Detainees were held until 3:30 AM on Saturday and released without charge, rights group KontraS Surabaya confirmed. The Surabaya action is part of a broader wave of street protests in Indonesian cities triggered by the fuel hike, which Prabowo's government implemented to ease budgetary strain as the Middle East conflict pushes up global oil costs. The free-meals scheme, Prabowo's signature social policy, has drawn additional criticism over cost overruns and food-safety incidents.

Why it matters

Public anger over purchasing-power pressure threatens the political coalition underpinning Prabowo's reform agenda. How Prabowo handles street dissent, and whether he rolls back the fuel hike or holds it, will set expectations for his next round of subsidy reforms and test investor confidence in Indonesia's fiscal consolidation.