Indonesia Strikes Back

Drive back armed domination!
Kick the military out of civilian affairs!
Take back control over our lives!

No Masters, No Slaves!
Solidarity, Freedom, and Justice for All!

These are just some of the calls to arms spreading like wildfire throughout Indonesia this past week as revolutionists, democracy protestors, students groups and working class rebels from across the political strata hit the streets to stand against a plague of amendments being brought in which will once against see Indonesia exist under a near-junta authority, with military officers occupying civil positions.

Vast protests have occurred across many islands of Indonesia seeing major demonstrations, riots and, militant action in Jakarta, Malang, Surabaya, Manado, and Yogykarta, with smaller demonstrations in Sernad, Sukabemi, Bandung, Purwokerto and many other locations. Diaspora communities around the world have also taking actions in solidarity, most prominently in solidarity Berlin, New York City and Melbourne.

Some background
Indonesia has a since it's independence been a country government with the military order. Initially under President Sukarno autocratic state which committed acts of genocide against political leftist, ethnic and religious opposition, active and perceived, then President Suharto who consolidated the authority of the state into a Junta government branded the “Orde Baru,” or New Order, a 32 year long military dictatorship which kept the 17,000 islands and some 600 ethnics groups in check, imposing a brutal colonial might on separatists and autonomist movements.

This period would come to an end in 1998 during following the global financial crisis which hit Asia hard, Suharto was seen as culpable and corrupt, as political tensions rose, mass student demonstrations broke out. The police would murder several of them, which resulted in an outburst of revolutionary direct action ultimately leading to the Indonesian Parliament being occupied by countless thousands who pitched in on the grounds and roof, demanding he resign. The political elite seeing which way the wind was blowing did the rest, and something resembling a active liberal democracy would follow with the usual ebbs and flows of the state.

Under Suharto Indonesia was ran on a doctrine of dwifungsi or “dual function” which gave the military a powerful role in civil society. Much of this was put into check by the 2004 Indonesian Military (TNI) Law which was fought for in the streets and in the halls of government. It was seen as a powerful step away from the reminants of the Junta governance and dictatorship and an important pillar of power resting with the people.

Since 2014 Indonesia has been in the grasp of President Joko Widodo, also knows as Jokowi. Initially he represented the centre-left secular national “Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle” (PDI-P) but would soon stray right wards and during the twlight of his second term he would begin openly leading his support to Prabowo Subianto, leader of therival “Great Indonesia Movement Party” or "Gerindra" Party, which is a populist, nationalist right wing party similar to those making ground around the world. His running mate was even Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Jokowi's son, and the pair would win the elections and take power last October.

Subianto, a former Commandant General of Kopassus (Indonesian Special Forces), with a long legacy of being connected to the kidnapping of democracy activists and using military and criminal elements to pressure political rivals, immediately set to work restoring the old terror. Armed with a ream of legislation that would cut the to the very core of the liberty Indonesians have fought the past twenty years for, the months since he took office have been deeply painful for the people of Indonesia.

There is a great piece by the folks at CrimethInc which goes much deeper into the contemporary and historical struggles in indonesia which I highly recommend taking the time to digest. You'll find that piece here.

2025 – The Uprising Begins
This most recently wave starts in Surakarta on 14 Feb and anti-government protests under the moniker “Adili Jokowi” or “Try Jokowi” protest, demand investigation of cases involving him, specifically around corruption, money laundering and extortion.

This protest was quickly following on 17 Feb in protests against Presidential Instruction Number 1 of 2025, (a series of massive budget cuts) and be given the moniker “Indonesia Gelap” or “Dark Indonesia”. Spearheaded by the student movement, in particular the All-Indonesian Students' Union (BEM SI) there was a massive surge in overt and clandestine political agitation, demos of thousands took place across dozens of cities in town squares and outside regional government offices.

Typical of Indonesian wit and humour an early seriesof demand took an acronym spelling the name of a popular meatball snack Pentol.

Polisi diberesin
---------'The police must be fixed'
Energi buat rakyat
---------'Energy for the people'
Naikkan taraf hidup rakyat
---------'Increase the people's well-being'
Tunaikan tukin untuk guru, ASN dan dosen
---------'Pay allowances for teachers, state employees, and lecturers'
Output MBG diperbaiki
---------Fix the output of the free nutritious meal program'
Lawan mafia tanah dan lengserkan pejabat tolol
---------'Fight the land mafias and topple down stupid officials'

Tho various groups formal and otherwise would issue lists of demands and aims, the above pretty much sums up the meat of the issue and remained a driving call. Prefigured networks of community and solidarity spooled into action and started implementing pipelines of food, water, and medical provisions to support the students. This even extended to fandom communities and similar otherwise apolitical social spaces. Beautiful working class solidarity spilled forth.

Police responded with violence.
The state responded with censorship.
Corporate Medias responded with disinformation.

Out of this storm has come many new affinities, groups, and co-ordinations. One such formation of particular not is a nascent Anarchist Federation for Indonesia, Perhimpunan Merdeka.

At the start of the month, 16 participants, delegates from 5 locals, 3 no-0nlocals and 2 observers came together over a few days as a “pre-congress” and now work towards a First Congress, to establish a Specific Anarchist Organisation built up libertarian principles towards and work towards popular power.

The Second Phase
From 11 March, a new wave of rebellion would ignite under the moniker Tolak RUU TNI in opposition of the Draft Law on the Indonesian National Army. Tolak means to reject, RUU refers to the draft law, and TNI is the Indonesia National Army.

In Yogyakarta, numerous groups band around a handful of demands.

1. Demand that the Government and DPR cancel the revision of the TNI Law, which lacks transparency, is rushed, and disregards public opinion, as it constitutes a constitutional violation.

2. Demand that the Government and DPR uphold the constitution and remain committed to the Reform Agenda by preserving the principles of civilian supremacy and equality before the law, while firmly rejecting the dual function of the TNI/Polri.

3. Demand that the TNI/Polri, as state institutions, undergo internal reforms and enhance their professionalism to restore public trust.

4. Urge all academicians across Indonesia to take a firm stance against actions that undermine democracy, violate the constitution, and deviate from the reform agenda.

5. Encourage and support civil society efforts to safeguard the Reform Agenda by actively monitoring and holding the Government and Parliament accountable.

These are subsequently refined by the students themselves and became.

1. Reject the entire draft revision of the TNI Law which is considered to weaken civilian supremacy and open up opportunities for the return of the dual function of the TNI.

2. Urging the removal and termination of active TNI-Polri officers from civilian positions to prevent abuse of power and corrupt practices in the military.

3. Achieve civilian supremacy and stop the neglect of the reform agenda to ensure that the military remains in the corridor of its main task as the guardian of national defence.

4. Reject all forms of militarisation in civilian government and demand the government's commitment to safeguard democratic values and human rights.

Demonstrations continue, the international community begins to stir. On 20 March, the drafted amendments to the 2004 Indonesian Military (TNI) Law were passed in the House of Representatives by unanimous vote. #TolakRUUTNI becomes #TolakUUTNI.

The government has said the bill requires officers to resign from the military before assuming civilian posts at departments such as the Attorney's General Office, but everyone knows what the truth and realities are. Dwifungsi is back and it presents a critical threat to every Indonesian who doesn't collaborate with the military state.

Driven by the passion and energy of the student body, whose future has just been gutted via bureaucratic paper signing, in short, said fuck this. They hit the street en-masse and hard.

Now is the fight for the future
The police rolled out in the their armed gangs, backed up by water cannons, ready to wield their great capacity for violence. The people do not pause but continue to descend on the halls of authority, not just in the Capital, not just in the seat of regional authority but everywhere. Far from allow this intimidation to stand, and knowing what is at stake the Indonesia. They marched.

The students do not stand alone. Communists and Anarchists alike, keen and driven, not stalled by fart sniffing debates of the merits of popular uprising, civil democracy or the political niche of the person next to them on the riot line have been active components of the protests on the streets and in the organising. Cells of militants taking the front line on the offensive and the beating on the defensive. Trade unionists, shop workers, alma maters, street rats, punks, renegades, salarymen, family... they are not alone. Away from the police lines, networks of mutual aid, pitch stakes in the ground and keep people, fed, hydrated, and patched together, give them a place to rest, recover, charge devices, check messages, tell mum you're all right, play a game, kiss, smoke, breath for a moment before heading back out.

The police have of course been using all their dirty tricks, from using under cover snatch and grab gangs, agent provocateurs and disrupting spy cops, and using underhanded tactics such as forcing ambulances to redirect injured protestors to police stations for arrest without treatment. They've also been caught using “stingray” tech to intercept phone information, specifically phone numbers, which they are then using to attempt to join organiser chats on various IM services. There have been multiple instances in which people have been removed from messaging groups after their number has been spoofed.

Of-course their obscene violence doesn't just exist on the openly on the streets and behind closed doors as they deliver “justice” in the cells, they've also been proactively attacking community spaces, water/food storage points and medical outposts, making a point to destroy all of the materials they can find.

None of this has done much to sour the temperament of the community who have continued to organise and take the fight to the state en-masse.

In situ, on the physical peripheries, online... solidarity flows. This beautiful attitude to forward art and culture, unrestrained from finger wagging and nursed restraint and similar to the Hong Kong uprising. This is in-part driven by a healthy decentralised network of connections, and keen arts and meme culture which has been taking iconic moments are making legends within hours of the footage being shared. Pick your platform and look up Indonesia and you'll see a wealth meme, shitposting, manga drawings, comics, illustrations and high art, across the spectrum of technical ability and tone. It's fucking beautiful.

Take one such moment, when a protestor in Manado climbs up on the riot van and spars with a cop, dropping him to his knees as all his fellow jackboots try and jump up. Instantly iconic and Indonesians revel in sharing the moment with delight and solidarity. There are countless moments in the storm that will live forever, In Surabaya, where a thousand people confronted police, forcing them into a defensive shield around their water cannon, pelted with rocks and Molotovs. In Malang militants battle through the night against riot police armed with improvised weapons make from street furniture. Away from the spectacle of violence, people are cared for and supported. Collectives forming. Friendships and comradely relationships formed in the fire.

They fight for the future.

The struggle will continue.
I write this over the 26-27 of March, I've avoided looking at the news and checking contacts and points of information least I lose myself further to updates, this was supposed to be an “In Brief” report simply to outline the context behind the dramatic often context-less footage across social media. It's expected that with Eid there with be a subsidence from both sides but this struggle has far from ended, and soon they'll be back out on the streets carrying on the struggle for the future, especially due to the looming revisions to the National Police (POLRI) law.

This is an ongoing situation and we hope to provide a deeper analysis and review of these events in due course. However for now, I encourage to look up further information where ever you access it and show you're solidarity in any means accessible. Let our comrades in the fight know they are not alone and the world stands with them against the terrible threat of the Dwifungsi and Junta government by any name.

Knowing what is happening, sharing solidarity is vital right now. Let them know we see them and stand with them. If you're able to provide material aid below photo of lads playing footie to keep the spirits up you'll find some fundraisers. I'll add to this as I come across more. The lack of numerous established links speaks poorly to our internationalism but we should ever aim to improve these links, across our respective tendancies and the many thousands of milies. Solidarity is Critical. If you can send over material aid, do.

If you are location in Indonesia and are close with the movement and would like to write a report or give an interview please get in contact with with Organise and/or the Anarchist Federation.■

Peter Ó'Máille

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Material fundraisers are somewhat fine on the ground due to the ongoing nature of the things and the language barriers. We will list those we are able to confirm below.

An International Fundraising Campaign in Solidarity with our Indonesian Anarchist Combatants.

Support the anarchist combatants in Indonesia who are fighting against stae repression, capitalism, and all forms of authoritarianism! After the passage of the TNI law and the planned passage of the POLRI law, a wave of large demonstrations erupted in various cities. The state further solidified its grip by militerizing civilian spaces, silencing resistance with violence and criminalisation. In the midst of this situation, international solidarity becomes crucial. The funds collected will be used for urgent needs such as survival equiptment, logistics costs, evacuation costs, as well as the needs of the safe house. Any contribution, no matter how small, is a real step towards strengthening the resistance and ensuring that the fire of freedom is not extinguished. Solidarity knows no bounds. Show your support now!

You can make donations via paypal at; einzine16@gmail.com (sending for friends and family)

Love Live Anarchy
Death To The State!
Solidarity Means Attack!

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Here is a fundraiser for a community kitchen (dapur warga) and street paramedic (paramedis jalanan) crew in Yogyakarta.

Their call out:

Hello friends good afternoon!
As we know the action to reject the TNI bill is moving simultaneously in several cities including Yogyakarta. we are opening the need for a public kitchen for the needs of several days during camping at the DPRD (local parliament building).

Bank name: BCA
Bella Antika
037 415 6817

Swift Code for the Bank Central Asia (BCA): CENAIDJAXXX

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The Free Sadiq Campaign.

Sidiq is an anarchist, illegalist and an individualist. On the 12th of July 2024, state authorities had arrested him for cannabis use and possession. He contributes to anarchist publishing and street libraries, involvement in soccer hooligan club, clashes in protests and a passion for writing poetry. Sidiq is looking at a possible 10 year prison term.

His support group are taking donations via paypal at; einzine16@gmail.com (referance Sadiq and mark for friends and family)

You can write to Sidiq;
Muhammad Ilyas Sidiq
Lapas (prison) Kebonwaru, Kec.
Batununggal, Kota Bandung, Jawa Barat
40272
Indonesia

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I'll sign of with this translation of a leaflet distributed by anarchists as part of the movement in the city of Makassar on March 20th. It was originally published on perhimpunanmerdeka.wordpress.com and is shared via Global May Day.

The TNI (Indonesian Military) Bill is Not Just Another Law—It’s a Declaration of War Against the People’s Freedom!

This ARMED OLIGARCHY REGIME seeks to restore military dominance over all aspects of life, repeating the New Order era when the army was a tool of oppression!

Backed by numerous political parties, former activists, influencers, and opportunistic intellectuals, they are eager to embed the military into civilian institutions, ensuring total control over people’s lives. From the Attorney General’s Office, ministries, and civil agencies to the distribution of rice and fertilizers, even matters of farmland and free meal programs—everything is designed to secure oligarchic interests and keep the people submissive under military boots!

They talk about “Military Operations Other Than War,” but their real intention is clear: to free the military from parliamentary oversight, giving them unchecked legitimacy to act as they please!This means we can expect more enforced disappearances, land grabs from citizens and indigenous communities, destruction of forests and oceans, and open repression against those who dare to resist!

Even worse, the military is now meddling in food supplies, LPG distribution, and national projects! This is the true face of state capitalism—

the military as the enforcer of capitalists, ensuring the people remain below a decent living standard and powerless

The TNI Bill Must Be Resisted! We Do Not Need the Military in Civilian Affairs!

Build people’s power from belowthrough local councils, factory councils, workplaces, campuses, villages, cooperatives, and economic networks to replace this corrupt social structure!

Organize grassroots resistancethrough autonomous action committees!

Drive back armed domination!
Kick the military out of civilian affairs!
Take back control over our lives!

No Masters, No Slaves!
Solidarity, Freedom, and Justice for All!