Indonesia’s Catholic bishops are blaming a deadly wave of civil unrest on “unwise and unjust words, actions” by the country’s government under President Prabowo Subianto. Source: Crux.
“We are concerned and pained to witness the violence and anarchic actions in several regions of our beloved country, Indonesia,” Bishop Antonius Subianto Benjamin, President of the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference, said.
“This situation appears to have occurred due to great disappointment with the unwise and unjust words, actions, and policies adopted by specific individuals in the government, representatives of the people, and officials,” Bishop Benjamin said.
So far, at least eight people have been killed amid the uprisings, which began amid protests over controversial housing perks for members of the country’s parliament, representing more than 10 times the country’s minimum wage, at a time when many Indonesians are trapped between stagnant or falling wages and rising costs of living.
Unrest exploded nationally on August 28 when an armoured police vehicle struck and killed a 21-year-old rideshare driver named Affan Kurniawan amid clashes between police and protestors in the national capital of Jakarta.
In response, looters attacked the residences of lawmakers and government officials in various parts of the country, triggering a cycle of at least 3200 arrests, including more than 1200 in Jakarta. A human rights group also claims that at least 20 people are missing amid the chaos.
Schools and universities in Jakarta have switched to online classes to avoid public exposure for students and faculty, and civil servants have been urged to work from home.
Mr Prabowo on Sunday announced a political deal to reduce the benefits enjoyed by members of parliament, but it remains unclear if that will be enough to defuse smouldering national anger.
Amid the tensions, the country’s Catholic leadership, representing just three per cent of the population in the world’s largest Muslim nation, is largely backing the legitimacy of the protests while calling for calm.
“We urge all institutions, executive, legislative, and judicial, to humbly listen to the hopes and interests of the people, especially our brothers and sisters who are vulnerable, poor, and experiencing injustice,” he said.
FULL STORY
Indonesian bishops blame ‘great disappointment’ in government for deadly protests (By Nirmala Carvalho, Crux)
