Since February 2025, public and student-led anti-government demonstrations have been held throughout several cities in Indonesia.

The first wave of protests were launched on 17 February 2025 by the All-Indonesian Students' Union (BEM SI), together with individual students' unions. According to the central coordinator of BEM SI, Herianto, the alliance had called for protests all over the country on 17 and 18 February (cancelled at Jakarta), while they would hold the protest centrally at Jakarta on 19 (cancelled) and 20 February. The Civil Society Coalition had also called for civilians to participate in demonstrations on 21 February following Friday prayers. BEM SI projected that around 5,000 students would participate in the protests, and they also threatened further actions if the government does not react positively.

The second wave of protests began in March 2025 following the ratification of the newly revised Indonesian National Armed Forces Law, which increased the number of civilian positions that soldiers are allowed to hold, from 10 to 14. Generally, most of the protests were held in front of the buildings of respective legislatures (national or regional), with its participants usually having worn black clothing, marked by the burning of used tires and clashes with policemen. Protests peaked in February and March 2025, but they began to fade since then.

Starting from Pati Regency, Central Java, a third wave of protests erupted around August 10–13, triggered by a proposed 250% increase in land and building taxes (PBB‑P2). The unrest quickly grew, drawing up to 100,000 protesters, with dozens injured. On 25 August, thousands, including students, workers, and activists, marched to the national parliament building in Jakarta, protesting against exorbitant allowances for lawmakers. After an online motorcycle taxi () driver was run over by security officers with an armoured vehicle, protesters grew angry. It was the first recorded fatality during the six-month-long protest. In retaliation, the demonstrators attacked two security officers who were near the location, leaving them lying on the road covered in blood. After protesters started getting aggressive, the military became involved to protect malls from looting. Protesters torched and looted the House of Representatives members' houses, including that of Ahmad Sahroni.

Background The protests occurred as a response over controversial policies by Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto and his vice-president Gibran Rakabuming Raka, which include the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme and the enactment of Presidential Instruction Number 1 of 2025, which led to massive budget cuts, supposedly to fund it.

The nickname itself originates as a hashtag popular on Twitter (X). According to Beautynesia, the hashtag had been used by more than 760 thousand tweets, but within 24 hours, this number has increased up to 14 million tweets. While according to coordinator of BEM SI, Satria Naufal, it represents "the fears, worries, and well-being of the citizens". Digital research company Jangkara found that during February 2025, the hashtag has received 81% negative sentiment, followed by 13% neutral and 6% positive, based on their analysis on 64,816 comments on X.

Timeline

2025 February The student protests were preceded by a similar anti-government ('Try Jokowi') protest, which occurred at Surakarta on 14 February 2025, demanding investigation of cases involving him. However, 10 minutes later, the protesters dispersed after heavy rain. Alongside this, there have been instances of graffiti bearing the inscription throughout parts of Java, such as Yogyakarta, Surabaya, and Malang, much of which was later removed by local authorities. Musician Iwan Fals, nonetheless, has criticised this demand and questioned what are his faults in office. Meanwhile, founder of KedaiKOPI, Hendri Satrio, has also doubted the success of this movement, stating that it would be difficult for the Prabowo's government to arrest and bring Jokowi into justice.

Central coordinator of BEM SI, Herianto, claimed that Indonesia "is being led by twin suns", and gave an example regarding ban on sale of 3 kg LPG gas cylinders by small informal retail traders, a policy that was enforced without knowledge of the president Prabowo Subianto and then subsequently repealed. He also claimed that students were disappointed after Prabowo shouted "Long live Jokowi!" during the 17th anniversary of Gerindra Party at Sentul International Convention Center. Prabowo himself has been accused by his opponents and political analysts of being Jokowi's puppet due to his closeness and the former's president influence on his policies. Prabowo denied this accusation multiple times, the most recent being during the same 17th anniversary event of Gerindra Party, which he responded to by saying "Ndasmu!" ("Your head!") with a mocking tone and facial expression. Such reaction attracted criticism from the public as being childish and confrontational towards his opposition.

Meanwhile, during protests on 17 February, Prabowo attended a closed meeting together with his ministers of Red and White Cabinet at Istana Merdeka while discussing various strategic issues such as prevention of online gambling. They were also seen having lunch together. At the same time, all eight fractions of DPR agreed to officially ratify the proposed revision of Mineral and Coal Law in 13th plenary session on 18 February. One of the proposed change to the law was to allow universities and colleges across Indonesia to receive mining permits and become involved in mining. Proponents of this change from the government argued that this will lower cost of tertiary education, while academics and students criticized the change as potentially used to silence universities from participating in activism while worsening ecological damage caused by the mining industry. This proposed change was later dropped when the law was passed on 17 February by the parliament the same day the protests erupted.

March

In March 2025, protests began to renew after Indonesian National Armed Forces Law underwent revision by the DPR. The important points of this version, include: Chapter 3: Armed Forces (TNI), previously subordinated to both the President of Indonesia and Ministry of Defense (Kemhan), is now fully subordinated to Kemhan. Chapter 7: Non-war military operations (OMSP) were increased from previous 14 into 16 tasks. The newly added two tasks include protection efforts against cyberattacks, and protection of Indonesian citizens and national interests overseas. Chapter 47: The number of civilian positions TNI members are allowed to occupy were increased from previous 10 into 14 positions. Five of them include National Agency for Disaster Countermeasure (BNPB), National Border Management Agency (BNPP), National Counter Terrorism Agency (BNPT), Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla), and Attorney General's Office (Kejagung). The proposal to add Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) into this list was shortly abandoned before its ratification. Chapter 53: Retirement ages vary by the rank of a soldier: Non-commissioned officers () and private (): 55 years Commissioned officers () up to colonel (): 58 years One-star high officer (): 60 years Two-star high officer (): 61 years Three-star high officer (): 62 years Four-star high officer (): 63 years, or can be extended twice by a presidential decree

On 19 March, Commission I of DPR and the government agreed to ratify the law next day, and it officially took effect on 20 March during a plenary session. This law caused strong criticism from various parties because it would potentially revive dwifungsi, leading to an online petition calling for repeal of the revision on Change.org (as of 19 March, it has been signed by more than 26,000 people). At the same time, the perception of TNI began to deteriorate following a police raid on cockfighting gamble site incident at Way Kanan, Lampung, which led into deaths of three policemen after being shot by two soldiers and a test-drive car theft, which killed a car salesman after being shot by a Navy sailor at North Aceh, both happened on March 17.

April In April 2025, protests continue the second wave with #FreePalestine. The hashtag erupted over Prabowo's plan to evacuate a thousand Palestinians from Gaza to Indonesia. The plan drew the attention of the Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI), so that it declared a ban on evacuating victims of the Palestinian conflict in Gaza to Indonesia because it could be interpreted as helping the interests of the Israeli occupation.

In addition, the protests erupted over authenticity of Jokowi's undergraduate diploma after an UGM alumnus, Rismon Hasiholan Sianipar, investigated the authenticity of the diploma.

May The protests were accompanied by International Workers' Day.

July The country oversaw new controversial policies imposed by the government. The Indonesian Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center (PPATK) temporarily blocked 122 million dormant bank accounts (not being used within at least three months), based on the evidences of abuse. However, this policy caused much condemnation leading into its reversal.

Alongside that, a series of anti-transmigration demonstrations were organised by Dayak indigenous communities throughout West Kalimantan, given its potential marginalisation of their lands, resources, and lifestyles. Previously, there were four locations in West Kalimantan that would be designated as destinations for transmigration, namely Rasau Jaya, Gerbang Mas Perkasa, Sekayam Entikong, and Ketunggau Hulu. Following this, the transmigration program into West Kalimantan was terminated by the government, and such protests soon spread into Central Kalimantan and North Kalimantan in the following month.

August

In early August 2025, some Indonesians raised the Straw Hat Pirates' Jolly Roger flag from the One Piece anime franchise as a symbol of protests. This coincided with the build up to 17 August, when the country celebrated its 80th anniversary of Independence. This flag was first flown by truck drivers in late July 2025 to protest the administration of Prabowo Subianto. They also refused to fly any Indonesian flags as a part of the demonstration against the prohibition of ODOL (over dimension, overload) trucks throughout several cities in Java, ongoing since 19 June.

In response, the flag was called a threat to the national unity of Indonesia by its government, especially by the leading figures from People's Consultative Assembly. The flag has been also declared a symbol of treason and waving the flag is considered as an act of rebellion and sedition, while various government institutions attempted to ban this flag.

In August, a number of protests were held in several cities and regencies due to significant increases in property tax by the local governments. Notable protests were held in Pati (250% increase), Bone (300%), and Cirebon (150-1000%). The protest in Pati on 13 August resulted in a clash between protesters and police, with 33 people injured.

October On 3 October 2025, the Indonesian government suspended the license of TikTok, the platform's second largest customer base, after the application refused to disclose the data of individuals who live streamed protests. TikTok's suspension ended after it shared data with the Indonesian government.

2026 June

On 12 June 2026, hundreds of students protest against Prabowo Subianto prompted by a fuel price hike, weakening of Indonesian rupiah against other currencies such as United States dollar, Malaysian ringgit, and Chinese yuan, governmental tensions, and mismanaged government spending on the Free Nutritious Meals program.

On 15 June 2026, student protest were held across multiple cities, including Jakarta, Bandung, North and South Sumatra.