Merauke, South Papua, Indonesia — A mass protest in Merauke escalated into chaos on Thursday (August 22) as hundreds of demonstrators clashed with police, nearly setting fire to the local Telkom Indonesia office. Security forces responded with warning shots and tear gas to disperse the angry crowd demanding the restoration of internet services.
Anger Erupts Over Prolonged Internet Blackout
The demonstration began peacefully as students, online motorcycle taxi drivers, and local residents rallied against the internet blackout that has crippled daily life in Merauke since August 16. Protesters argued the disruption had paralyzed online transportation services, banking transactions, and access to education.
Tensions boiled over when protesters hurled rocks, glass bottles, and Molotov cocktails at the Telkom office on Postel Street. A small fire scorched part of the building’s roof before being extinguished by security officers. By 2:00 p.m. local time, the protest had spiraled into violent clashes.
Police Deploy Brimob Riot Unit
Merauke police deployed at least 281 officers, including 100 members of the Brimob paramilitary police, to regain control. Officers came under attack from projectiles before firing tear gas to push back the crowd. Several protesters and police personnel suffered minor injuries in the melee.
Police Chief AKBP Leonardo Yoga personally led the operation, urging demonstrators to stop the violence.
Protesters Issue Four Demands
The demonstrators voiced four key demands:
1. Full restoration of internet services.
2. Construction of a permanent backup line to prevent future outages.
3. Transparency in Telkom’s budget allocations.
4. Compensation for IndiHome and Telkomsel subscribers.
They also called on the government to end Telkom’s monopoly by opening access to other providers.
A Recurring Digital Crisis Since 2016
Authorities have set up four emergency Wi-Fi hotspots as a temporary measure, but locals dismiss the solution as inadequate. Merauke residents say this is the eighth major outage since 2016, reflecting the fragility of digital infrastructure in eastern Indonesia.
Broader National and Global Concerns
The unrest in Merauke highlights Indonesia’s growing vulnerability to internet disruptions, particularly in remote regions. With internet access now critical to transportation, education, and finance, prolonged outages risk triggering wider social and economic turmoil.
The incident has also drawn global attention to Indonesia’s digital infrastructure challenges. Observers warn that unless Telkom and the government act decisively, repeated failures could spark unrest in other regions.