Indonesian celebrities unite to ‘speak up for democracy’ amid election law protests

Among the throng outside the parliament building in Jakarta was Reza Rahadian, a household name in film and music, who electrified the crowd with a passionate speech delivered from atop a truck.

“Today, I can’t stay silent any more,” he told protesters on Thursday, voicing the frustration of many at a constitutional court decision that’s likely to be annulled “by the very institution that says it is the representative of all of us every day”.

While anti-government protests are nothing new in Indonesia, the presence of high-profile figures like Reza and acclaimed director Joko Anwar signals a significant shift. Typically reticent about political issues, these entertainers are stepping into the fray, highlighting the seriousness of the moment.

The unrest erupted in Jakarta and other cities across Indonesia after the House of Representatives announced plans last week to override regional election rules set by the constitutional court.

Joko, whose recent Netflix series Nightmares and Daydreams has garnered acclaim, articulated the widespread discontent.

Indonesians were “fed up with the authorities and the people’s representatives who have always considered the people stupid”, he told This Week in Asia.

“They act as if the people don’t exist by arbitrarily playing around with the law to gain power, and this regional election issue was our boiling point,” he said. “We have had enough.”

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Indonesia protests rage as lawmakers shelve plan to change election law

Tensions escalated further when public figures began sharing a stark image of a blue background with the words Peringatan Darurat (Emergency Warning) across social media – often accompanied by messages asserting Indonesia’s democracy was in a state of emergency.

The ruling