Violent unrest in Indonesia reached the homes of senior political figures over the weekend, with mobs ransacking the residence of Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and the houses of several lawmakers as anger over parliamentary perks spread beyond the streets of Jakarta.
The looting followed days of demonstrations over lawmakers’ allowances and other privileges, and it underscored how quickly the protests had moved from a policy grievance into a wider backlash against the political class. The Jakarta Globe reported that crowds overpowered guards, broke through gates and carried off valuables from the minister’s home in South Tangerang.
The property damage was extensive. Witnesses described electronics, paintings, clothing, furniture and other items being taken from the minister’s house. The report also said the area was overwhelmed by crowds and that soldiers later secured the property. The targeting of a senior finance minister’s home signals the extent to which the unrest has spread from protest sites into residential neighborhoods associated with national power.
The violence did not stop there. The same report said the homes of several lawmakers were also attacked, including residences tied to figures who had become lightning rods for public anger. Among them was Ahmad Sahroni, a senior NasDem lawmaker whose comments had drawn heavy criticism. His home was reportedly stripped of household items, collectibles and valuables. The attack on his residence and others reflects how protest anger was no longer limited to policy demands but had become personalized against elected officials.
These incidents followed a week of demonstrations that began with outrage over parliamentary pay and housing allowances. The protests escalated after the death of Affan Kurniawan, a ride-hailing rider killed by police during a protest, which intensified public fury and broadened the unrest into rioting and looting in multiple cities.
For the government, the challenge is no longer only to answer demands for lower perks. It must now restore order, reassure the public that officials are accountable and prevent further spread of attacks on homes and public buildings. The unrest has shown how quickly a dispute over political privilege can become a test of state authority.
The looting also matters because it reached a figure as visible as Sri Mulyani, one of Indonesia’s best-known ministers and a long-standing symbol of technocratic economic management. When that kind of target is attacked, the message is not just anger at one office-holder but frustration with the entire political hierarchy around her.
The coming days will show whether the concessions announced by President Prabowo Subianto are enough to stop the unrest or whether the anger has already moved beyond policy reform and into a deeper confrontation with the state.
