Indonesian politicians to have cut advantages in order to repress the troubles

The Indonesian political parties have agreed to reverse certain advantages funded by the States in order to repress the demonstrations nationwide, said the president of the country.

Several cities of the Southern Asian nation, including the capital, Jakarta, were seized by anti -government demonstrations last week which sometimes led to clashes between demonstrators and the police.

While the demonstrations were fed by a wide range of problems – including the death of a carpooling driver – a basic complaint concerns a new monthly allowance for legislators.

President PRABOWO SUBIANTO announced on Sunday that several advantages would be reigned, including the size of certain allowances.

The Indonesian chief – who must have already canceled a trip to China for disorders – said that certain demonstrations had been beyond what was considered peaceful and can be “betrayal and terrorism”.

He added that he had ordered the police and the armed forces to take strong measures against looting and material damage.

The home of Indonesia Minister of Finance, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, was among several targeted by looters on Sunday, reports the AFP news agency.

The demonstrations mainly focused on an increase of 50 million rupees ($ 3,030; £ 2,250) in parliamentarians’ allowances – almost 10 times the minimum wage in Jakarta.

But they degenerated after Affan Kurniawan, a 21-year-old safe driver, was dismissed Thursday by a police vehicle during a demonstration in the capital.

On Friday evening, three people were killed after demonstrators set fire to a regional parliament building.

During the weekend, the demonstrations continued, the jakarta center police pulling tear gas to disperse the crowds in the streets, while some demonstrators throwing Molotov cocktails and firecrackers in a police complex.

Prabowo did not specify which legislators would have their allowances, but said that a moratorium on travel abroad would also be imposed.

However, concessions to demonstrators cannot repress widespread dissent.

Muzammil Ihsan, head of the Indonesian student leaders, the largest group of students in the country, told Reuters that this decision was “not sufficient” and that other demonstrations were envisaged.

“The government must solve deeply rooted problems,” he said. “Anger in the streets is not without reason.”

The demonstrators demanded higher wages, lower taxes, stronger corruption measures and expressed objections to heavy police, the police responded to some of the demonstrations.