• Indonesian police have fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters near universities in Bandung.
• Protests, targeting government spending and recent police violence, have resulted in at least eight fatalities.
• The incidents at Islamic University of Bandung (UNISBA) and Pasundan University reflect widespread student unrest.
• International rights groups have condemned the security response, calling for investigations into alleged abuses.
• Social media campaigns have emerged, demanding an end to police brutality and better wages for workers.

Indonesian police have escalated tensions by firing tear gas and rubber bullets into crowds of protesters near two universities in Bandung, marking a significant event in ongoing nationwide demonstrations. The protests, which began targeting government spending and the death of a motorcycle taxi driver last week, have seen at least eight fatalities, according to government officials like senior minister Airlangga Hartarto, and have led to rioting and looting in Jakarta, causing millions in damages, as stated by Reuters, The Jakarta Post, and Channel News Asia.

The protests have been fueled by public fury over government spending, particularly enhanced perks for lawmakers, and have involved students from the Islamic University of Bandung (UNISBA) and Pasundan University. Accusations from the UNISBA student body claim that security forces "brutally attacked" the campus and caused significant distress among students, as evidenced by reports of tear gas use, according to Reuters, Reuters, and Al Jazeera.

Police officials, including Hendra Rochmawan, asserted that they did not enter university campuses while attempting to disperse non-student protesters allegedly seeking refuge within, yet bruising claims arise from students that the campuses were no longer safe zones. Reports indicate escalating casualties, including a UNISBA student critically injured by rubber bullets during the protests, per information shared by Reuters, Al Jazeera, and The Jakarta Post.

In response to the heavy-handed security measures, international rights groups, including Human Rights Watch and the United Nations' rights office, have criticized the government's reaction, urging investigations into possible rights violations. Human Rights Watch's Meenakshi Ganguly stated that the authorities acted irresponsibly, equating the protests to acts of terrorism, according to Reuters and Reuters.

The demonstrations have sparked a vibrant social media response, with users adopting pink and green hues in their profiles and using the hashtag #ResetIndonesia to demand government accountability, including calls to end police brutality and establish fair wages for the populace. This reflects the growing discontent among Indonesians regarding perceived governmental inadequacies and social disparities, according to Al Jazeera and Channel News Asia.