Student groups, workers, and civil society organizations staged a mass rally in front of the Parliament building in Jakarta last week, denouncing corruption and what they called the politicization of the law.
The coalition of student associations Bem Si said the demonstrations were focused on “corruption and the politicization of the law.”
The protests followed days of unrest across Indonesia, initially sparked by parliamentary subsidies and later by allegations of police brutality.
According to local reports, ten people were killed, more than a thousand were injured, and some three thousand were arrested.
President Prabowo Subianto defended the security forces, insisting that the army and police had contained the violence of the crowds, behind whom he claimed “traitors and terrorists” were hiding.
Catholic universities’ open letter
Against this backdrop, the rectors and presidents of 28 Catholic universities, all members of the Association of Catholic Universities (APTIK), issued an open letter warning of growing discontent between political elites and citizens.
They noted that Indonesia is facing “a wave of uncertainty due to global geopolitical and economic turmoil,” which has weakened the economy, increased unemployment, and driven up the cost of essential goods.
Instead of responding with empathy and visionary leadership, the academics said government officials had shown arrogance and indifference, even resorting to corruption in measures meant to address public needs.
The letter argued that national development programs, once intended to advance social justice, have instead been captured by oligarchic interests.
Among the policies criticized were higher property and building taxes, the “extremely high remuneration” of lawmakers, the overlapping of ministerial and deputy ministerial posts, and continuing barriers to health care access.
Call to respect democracy
The rectors also pointed to systemic flaws in education and security spending. Education, they said, has been left “to market mechanisms,” leading to commercialization, while the armed forces and police continue to receive the largest share of the state budget.
They linked public anger not only to police violence but also to broader injustice and inequality. “Injustice always leads to deep hurt and anger among the population, which explodes when the limits of humanity are exceeded by arrogance, lack of empathy of officials, and repression by the forces of law and order,” the letter said.
APTIK urged state leaders to respect democratic freedoms and called for an immediate, transparent dialogue with protesters. “Any attempt to silence critical voices through authoritarian measures, media censorship, intimidation, or other forms of violence is an affront and a betrayal of democracy,” they wrote.
The statement concluded by recalling Pope Francis’ reminder that “peace is the result of justice.” The rectors said peace and prosperity can only be achieved if leaders and citizens work for the common good by confronting “every form of moral, economic, and social suffering.”
