Indonesian Women Lead “Brave Pink” Protests Against Police Abuse and Corruption
Hundreds of Indonesian women dressed in pink and carrying broomsticks marched to parliament in Jakarta on Wednesday, denouncing police abuses and government extravagance. The protests, now in their second week, have been fuelled by frustration over rising living costs and lavish perks for MPs. Tensions escalated after the death of motorcycle taxi driver Affan Kurniawan, who was run over by a police vehicle. The women, members of the Indonesian Women’s Alliance (IWA), said their broomsticks symbolised a call to “sweep away the dirt of the state, militarism and police repression.” The IWA, which unites 90 organisations and civil society groups, has a long history of protest, echoing its role during the 1998 movement against Suharto’s rule. Protesters have also embraced colours as symbols of resistance: pink for bravery and green for solidarity with Affan, whose rideshare uniform was green. President […]