Indonesian women are carrying brooms to protests. Here’s why

Hundreds of women wearing pink and holding broomsticks marched to Indonesia’s parliament on Wednesday.

This happened as students, workers and rights groups were already holding protests across the world’s third-largest democracy.

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The demonstrations turned violent after a young motorcycle taxi driver, Affan Kurniawan, died when a police vehicle ran over him days ago.

But why are women carrying broomsticks in protest?

Find out below:

Why are Indonesian women protesting with brooms?

Women marched to Indonesia’s parliament carrying broomsticks and placards to condemn police violence and government overreach.

They used brooms as a symbol of their demand for reform, as President Prabowo Subianto travelled to China to attend a military parade.

At the rally, women dressed in pink from the Indonesian Women’s Alliance (IWA) said the broomsticks showed their wish to “sweep away the dirt of the state, militarism and police repression”.

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They also raised signs that read “reform the police”.

“Protests are not crimes, but rather democratic rights inherent in every citizen,” one of the protesters, Mutiara Ika, told BBC Indonesia.

Notably, the IWA is a political coalition of 90 women’s organisations and movements, joined by labour unions, rights groups and indigenous communities.

Women in Indonesia have long taken part in protest movements, including those against Suharto’s authoritarian rule that led to the reform movement of 1998.

According to the IWA, pink represents courage.

Other protesters chose green, the colour of Affan’s rideshare uniform, as a mark of support.

Online, people are calling the colours “hero green” and “brave pink”, and many have changed their profile photos with filters in these shades.

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What is happening in Indonesia?

Public anger has spread across the world’s third-largest democracy after reports revealed that all 580 members of the House of Representatives receive a housing allowance of 50 million rupiah ($3,075) every month, on top of their salaries.

The allowance, introduced last year, is nearly 10 times higher than Jakarta’s minimum wage.

Critics say the benefit is not just excessive but also out of touch, as people struggle with rising living costs, higher taxes and growing unemployment.

The protests escalated after the death of 21-year-old ride-hailing driver Affan Kurniawan.

A video circulating online, apparently showing his death during a rally in Jakarta on Thursday, shocked the country and fuelled anger at the security forces.

In Makassar on Sulawesi island, protesters torched a local parliament building, leaving several people trapped inside.

Authorities said 1,240 people were detained in Jakarta after five days of unrest. Damages were estimated at 55 billion rupiah ($3.3 million) as rioters burned buses, subway stations and other public facilities.

President Subianto has directed the security forces to act firmly against the unrest.

“There are signs of unlawful acts, even leading to treason and terrorism,” he said. “To the police and the military, I have ordered them to take action as firm as possible against the destruction of public facilities, looting at homes of individuals and economic centres, according to the laws.”

The United Nations human rights office has urged “prompt, thorough, and transparent investigations” into claims of violations in Jakarta’s handling of the protests.

At a televised news conference in Jakarta, joined by leaders of eight political parties, Subianto announced that the government would cut lawmakers’ perks, including the disputed housing allowance, and suspend overseas trips for parliament members.

The step was a rare concession in response to public anger. Still, some say the measures fall short.

“It is not only about one issue, but about long-standing concerns with inequality, governance and accountability,” Herianto, a former central co-ordinator for the All-Indonesian Students’ Union, told BBC.