Indonesia faces leaderless state as riots paralyze police: analyst
JAKARTA – Widespread unrest is escalating across Indonesia, with a political analyst warning of a breakdown in state authority and a “paralyzed” National Police (Polri). The crisis stems from a lack of decisive leadership from President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming raka, according to Made Supriatma, a visiting fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in singapore.
Supriatma described the situation as having moved beyond peaceful protest, stating, “This is no longer a protest. This is a riot. And riots stem from chaos.chaos comes when there is no leadership to make state institutions function.” He told Indonesia Buisness Post on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, that the mass actions have effectively crippled Polri, citing internal divisions and unchecked looting and arson. ”Last night [Monday night], there was even a police station set on fire without any intervention,” he said.
The analyst was critical of the government’s response, asserting, “The country is leaderless. Prabowo-Gibran are not functioning as national leaders. They are not making any policies to address this rapidly escalating crisis.”
Supriatma dismissed the potential for emergency measures like martial law as ineffective at this stage. “Even if martial law is declared, it will be too late. The situation is already out of control. If the military intervenes too deeply, it could spark an even greater mass rebellion. Limited repression without overwhelming force will only strengthen the movement,” he explained.
He further questioned President Subianto’s command over the police force, asking, “why hasn’t Prabowo taken over leadership of Polri? The police are directly under the president. He could dismiss the national police chief and order the force to act.”
