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Riot police fired tear gas at thousands of students who protested the gorgeous allowances of parliamentary members on Monday at thousands of students who tried to reach parliament in Indonesia’s capital.
Protesters are furious at recent reports that 580 members of the House of Representatives had received housing allowances of 50 million rupiahs (2,637 euros) a month since September 2024.
They consider allowances unfair due to the economic difficulties faced by most citizens in the country.
Police fired tear gas as protesters tried to approach Congress. The protesters fought back, threw rocks and bottles at officers, setting fire under the elevated road near the heavily guarded parliamentary grounds.
Authorities blocked the streets leading to council buildings, including several toll roads, causing serious traffic jams in the city.
More than 1,200 security personnel have been deployed to protect the compounds.
There were no immediate reports of injuries from anxiety on Monday.
Protesters are demanding that what they see as a luxurious allowance above the salaries of lawmakers be abolished.
Housing benefits alone will be about 20 times the monthly wages in poor areas.
House Speaker Puan Maharani told reporters on Saturday that the amount had been thoroughly considered and adjusted to Jakarta’s current prices.
Corruption is considered endemic in Indonesia, and activists say police and parliamentary members are perceived as widely corrupt in countries with over 280 million.
Additional sources β’AP