Indonesia Police Use Tear Gas Near Bandung Universities Amid Deadly Protests

Indonesian police have used tear gas against crowds near the Islamic University of Bandung (UNISBA) and Pasundan University amid nationwide protests over controversial government spending and enhanced perks for lawmakers. Student bodies accused security forces of brutal attacks and attempting to silence dissent, while police officials stated they targeted non-student protesters blocking roads and denied entering university campuses, which served as medical hubs for injured protesters. The protests escalated after a police vehicle fatally struck a motorcycle taxi driver, leading to rioting and looting, with at least eight deaths reported. President Prabowo Subianto, a former military leader under President Suharto, warned security forces would take a firm stance against violent escalations. International human rights groups criticized the government's response, condemning the treatment of protests as acts of treason or terrorism and calling for investigations into alleged abuses. The unrest recalls the historic student-led demonstrations that contributed to the fall of Suharto in 1998, underscoring students' ongoing role as defenders of Indonesian democracy.