• Hundreds of women protested in Jakarta against police brutality and lawmakers' perks, using brooms as symbols of reform.
• The protests intensified after the death of a motorcycle taxi driver due to police vehicle collision, escalating nationwide unrest.
• At least 10 fatalities have been reported amid a violent crackdown on protests, with calls for investigations into rights violations.

On September 3, hundreds of women dressed in pink joined protests in Jakarta, Indonesia, brandishing brooms as a symbol of their demand for reform regarding police brutality and the lavish perks given to lawmakers. The demonstrators carried signs with messages including “reform the police” and “your sweet promises cause diabetes,” and organizers stated that brooms represented a need to "sweep the state's dirt ... and the repressiveness of security forces," according to Reuters, The Jakarta Post, and BBC.

The unrest began on August 28 after a police vehicle fatally struck a motorcycle taxi driver, sparking nationwide protests against low wages, rising taxes, and government spending. Human rights organizations report that at least 10 individuals have died during these protests, which have included looting and riots, prompting concerns about police conduct. Amnesty International described the rising death toll as “alarming,” highlighting the need for accountability for violations, according to Al Jazeera, Reuters, and BBC.

As protests escalated, President Prabowo Subianto announced measures to revoke some perks for lawmakers, attempting to quell discontent. Moreover, he initially canceled a trip to China but later attended a military parade after asserting that normalcy was returning to Indonesia. The Indonesian Women's Alliance, leading the protests, called for the government to pull military personnel from civilian security duties and stop targeting activists, which they argue limits the right to free assembly and dissent, as noted by Reuters, The Jakarta Post, and BBC.

The protests continued to receive attention from international rights organizations, with calls for thorough investigations into the policing of demonstrations. The situation has been further complicated by ongoing dialogues regarding military involvement in civilian affairs, a concern voiced by various women’s groups as they demand a return to democratic norms without intimidation, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.