President Prabowo: Violent protests will neither make jobs nor the economy better

Jakarta, Thekabarnews.com—Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has stressed that protests that happen over and over again, especially those that end in violence, would not contribute to the opening of new companies or the creation of jobs. Instead, Prabowo said that riots and other anarchic actions only hurt the country, break the law, and make things less safe for everyone.

At the National Coordination Meeting between the central and regional administrations at the Sentul International Convention Center, Monday, February 2, President Prabowo stressed that peaceful protests are a right in a democracy. However, Prabowo warned that protests should not turn into acts of violence, like setting fires or throwing Molotov cocktails.

“Protests are okay, but rioting will never cause a single factory to open, no matter how many times you protest. Foreign powers are influencing groups that instigate protests, even if they are unaware of it. I am confident in this assertion, and I have evidence to support it,” Prabowo added.

President Prabowo told the protesters to think about how their actions would affect regular people. He questioned whether the rioters truly care about the welfare of other Indonesians who suffer losses and feel unsafe in public because of the unrest.

President Prabowo also talked about political opposition, saying that people should not do things that hurt Indonesia’s reputation and unity just because they do not like him or other national personalities. Therefore, Prabowo told his critics to fight for their ideas in the political arena in a fair and open way. Furthermore, he pointed to the 2029 presidential election as the best place for political competition.

“That is alright if you don’t like Prabowo. Fight politically in 2029. But do not ruin the country simply because you don’t like a few people,” Prabowo added.

President Prabowo stated that disruptive protests pose a significant threat to the country’s stability. The president said that although people have the right to express their views, protests intended to cause unrest only harm the country and make it harder to attract investment, create jobs, and sustain economic growth.

The president’s statements make it clear that the administration believes that democracy must be based on accountability, the rule of law, and a common commitment to Indonesia’s long-term success.