Prabowo: Trucks Loaded with Incendiary Tools & Firecrackers Found at Riot Sites

rnJakarta — President Prabowo Subianto asserted that the demonstrations which escalated into riots in several regions were not peaceful expressions of opinion, but rather deliberate actions intended to incite chaos. He made this statement during a press briefing after visiting victims of the riots at the National Police Hospital (RS Polri), Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, on Monday (September 1).rnPrabowo emphasized that the constitution guarantees every citizen the right to express their opinion. However, he stressed that demonstrations must be carried out in accordance with the law.rn“The right to express opinions is guaranteed by law, but there are rules. Demonstrations must be peaceful, they must comply with regulations. If you want to hold a demonstration, you must apply for a permit, the permit must be granted, and the rally must end at 6:00 p.m.,” Prabowo said.rnHowever, reports Prabowo received from the field indicated strong evidence that the riots were instigated by groups with ulterior motives.rn“In many places I’ve received reports that trucks arrived carrying large, heavy firecrackers. Many of our officers were hit by these explosives—some suffered burns on their necks, others on their thighs. Imagine if a man’s vital organs were burned. To me, this is no longer a protest; this is a riot with the intent to set fires. Trucks filled with incendiary tools have been found,” he stressed.rnPrabowo argued that the attacks directed at the parliament buildings (DPR and DPRD), which represent state sovereignty and democratic institutions, indicate a far more serious agenda.rn“The DPR and DPRD buildings are state institutions that embody national sovereignty and democracy, and they were set on fire. Clearly, the intention was not to express opinion—it was to create chaos, disrupt people’s lives, and undermine national development efforts aimed at eradicating poverty,” said Prabowo.rnFurthermore, Prabowo reaffirmed that his administration will continue to defend the interests of the lower classes. He underlined that all government programs are designed to improve the welfare of society’s most vulnerable.rn“I gathered all the big businessmen. I told them, you’ve already made it big. Keep working, and if you work properly, you’re important because you create jobs. But I must take care of the weakest, the poorest. All of my programs can be seen, and the results are already beginning to show. Yet there’s this group, and we can see their actions are premeditated,” Prabowo concluded.rn