JAKARTA — Indonesia’s leader dismissed the ministers of finance and security on Monday after protests that spread across the country turned deadly, the government said.
The announcement, posted by state channels and reported by The Associated Press, said the removals followed days of demonstrations that erupted in multiple cities. Officials did not immediately release full casualty figures or provide detailed reasons beyond citing the unrest as the impetus for the shake-up.
The changes represent a significant personnel move in the cabinet amid a period of national unrest. The finance portfolio oversees economic policy and budgetary decisions, while the security portfolio coordinates responses to internal disorder and works with police and military authorities. Under Indonesia’s system, the president has the authority to appoint and remove cabinet ministers.
Government statements did not name interim replacements. Analysts and political observers said the speed of the dismissals suggested the leader sought to signal decisive action in response to public anger and to reassert control over policy and security operations.
The protests began in recent days and drew demonstrators to city centers, demanding action on issues protesters described as urgent. Local authorities reported clashes between security forces and demonstrators in some areas; information about arrests, injuries and fatalities remained incomplete as authorities sought to restore order.
International and domestic rights groups have in the past raised concerns about heavy-handed responses to demonstrations in Indonesia, and the current unrest revived those debates as human rights organizations and legal advocates pressed for transparent investigations into any deaths and abuses. The government said it would investigate incidents tied to the protests, but provided few specifics in its initial announcement.
Political fallout from the unrest will likely shape the government’s next steps on economic and security policy. The finance minister is central to fiscal planning and managing investor confidence, and sudden changes at the ministry can affect markets and public perceptions of policy continuity. The security minister’s removal signals a review of how authorities managed crowd control and law enforcement operations during the demonstrations.
Regional leaders and lawmakers called for calm and urged dialogue between authorities and protesters. Some parliamentary figures asked for briefings on the causes of the protests and the government’s response, while civic groups demanded accountability for any proven use of excessive force.
The leader’s office said further announcements about cabinet appointments and investigations into the unrest would follow. For now, the headlines underscore a moment of acute tension in Indonesia: a government reshuffle announced in direct response to street protests that, according to officials, have left people dead and the nation searching for a path back to stability.
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS