GTI - The phenomenon of large-scale demonstrations in Indonesia across 32 cities from August 25-28, 2025, has created a tense debate between the people's legitimate demands within the democratic system and allegations of planned riots. Eight people were reported dead. Several public facilities were burned, such as toll gates, bus stops, police posts, shopping centers, the House of Representatives (DPR/MPR) building, the police station, and ATMs. The large-scale demonstrations were primarily triggered by the death of Affan Kurniawan, a motorcycle taxi driver, the House of Representatives salary increase, and tax increases.

Former Head of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) of Indonesia, AM Hendropriyono, identified George Soros as the mastermind. President Prabowo claimed there was an attempted coup. However, there was no solid explanation from the government's version.

GTI investigated this issue further by interviewing Hendrajid, a geopolitical expert and Executive Director of the Global Future Institute (GFI), on September 9, 2025. According to him, the people's demands were real and genuine. Public unrest was indeed peaking due to corruption, tax increases, and the dramatic salary increase for the House of Representatives (DRP).

However, this moment of peak unrest was precisely awaited by the Old Order (Northern countries) hijacked the genuine demonstrations of the Indonesian people into riots and chaos. Thus, Indonesia was expected to fall into their trap, becoming a target for the Southern Countries to remain impoverished and dependent on the Old Order. Hendrajid suggested a strategic counter-narrative that unites the government and society towards sovereignty and independence. The corruption must be addressed strategically, and the government must establish a national security council to avoid overlapping roles between the police and the military.