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February 27, 2025 | 11:05 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesians living in Berlin, Germany, are set to stage a protest at Brandenburg Gate on Saturday, March 1, 2025, in solidarity with the 'Dark Indonesia' (Indonesia Gelap) protest.
Brandenburg Gate, a national symbol of peace and unity, is a key gathering point for people from around the world.
Herlambang Bayu Aji, an Indonesian citizen residing in Berlin, stated that the protest, which will involve dozens of Indonesian diaspora members, reflects their concern over injustice under the administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka. “This is moral support for our brothers and sisters,” Bayu said via WhatsApp on Wednesday, February 26.
According to Bayu, ten Indonesian citizens, including artists and students, have formulated the protest’s key messages, outlining eight reasons for their opposition to the Prabowo-Gibran administration.
The protest highlights various government policies perceived as harmful to the public, including the militarization of governance through the appointment of retired military officers to the cabinet and the involvement of active-duty Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) personnel in the food estate program in Papua and the Free Nutritious Meals (Makan Bergizi Gratis/MBG) initiative.
Additionally, the protesters criticize the increasing role of the Indonesian National Police (Polri) in politics and business, as well as growing police repression against civilians. They also raise concerns over restrictions on artistic expression and free speech, citing bans on critical works such as the punk band Sukatani’s song Bayar, Bayar, Bayar, the theater performance Interview with Mulyono, and an art exhibition by Yos Suprapto.
Other grievances include the criminalization of activists opposing mining projects and National Strategic Projects (PSN), the arrests of environmental and human rights activists, as well as the detention of students and laborers. In the education sector, they criticize budget cuts for education and research.
The protesters also condemn state budget mismanagement, pointing to an oversized cabinet and a lack of transparency in state asset management through Danantara, the government’s investment management body. They also criticize the House of Representatives for failing to pass key legislation, including the Domestic Workers Protection Law, the Indigenous Peoples Law, and the Agrarian Reform Law.
The Indonesian diaspora demands the government revoke the dual-role function of the TNI and Polri, amend laws that threaten free speech and expression, and revise regulations that exploit natural resources. They also call for a review of controversial government programs such as the National Strategic Projects (PSN), Free Nutritious Meals, and the Nusantara Capital City project, as well as an evaluation of the cabinet’s composition.
According to Bayu, Indonesians from other parts of Germany have also expressed their intent to join the protest. He and his colleagues urge all Indonesians in Germany to monitor the government’s actions to ensure social justice and environmental sustainability in Indonesia. “Join us and be part of the movement for social change,” Bayu said.
The Dark Indonesia protest highlights concerns over the governance of President Prabowo Subianto’s administration. The term Dark Indonesia reflects public fears about the country’s future. Since February 17, the movement has been trending on social media platform X, with the Student Executive Board Alliance (BEM) and civil society groups staging protests across Indonesia.
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