China understands Prabowo visit cancellation as Indonesia returns to normality

China understands and respects the Indonesian government's decision for President Prabowo Subianto to cancel his visit to China due to domestic priorities, with Jakarta essentially returning to normal on Monday after days of protests and violence, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun said in Beijing on Monday that China welcomed Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Sugiono to China for the SCO Tianjin Summit and events to mark the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War.

From Thursday, violent and chaotic street rallies had occurred in Jakarta and other cities on Java Island and in Makassar on Sulawesi Island, with crowds of people thronging the entrance to the Indonesian parliament compound in Jakarta.

Protesters' slogans were directed at the 100 million rupiah ($6,089) monthly salary and the monthly housing allowance of 50 million rupiah received by 580 Indonesian lawmakers, but unidentified crowds looted the homes of a couple of lawmakers as well as the private house of Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati over the weekend.

President Prabowo said on Sunday afternoon that he had instructed the Indonesian military and police to take strict measures against anyone involved in violent actions that cause damage to public facilities or in the looting of private and official homes.

Prabowo said he had also asked the Indonesian parliament to stop paying lawmakers' housing allowances and to suspend their overseas working visits.

In Beijing, Guo said: "We noted the latest developments in Indonesia and believe that, under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto, the Indonesian government has the ability to properly handle the domestic situation and restore stability at an early date.

"China hopes Indonesia will take effective measures to ensure the safety and security of Chinese institutions and personnel in Indonesia."

While the situation in Jakarta and other trouble spots has largely returned to normal, some mass rallies occurred on Monday in Bandar Lampung in southern Sumatra. Demonstrators peacefully protested against the poor performance of the parliament and government.

Hendropriyono, a former head of Indonesia's State Intelligence Agency, said last week that foreign actors had exploited the recent riots in the country. Some observers noted that some protesters were promised food and extra payments for participation, which is identical to previous incidents in other countries.

Valens Daki-soo, a political and military observer in Jakarta, said last week's demonstrations had been mainly an expression of public anger. "Those lawmakers really do not show their empathy to people's suffering. They are not sensitive," he said, noting people do have worries that the country may open the door to becoming a "proxy war" arena.

Prabowo, during his capacity as minister of defense under his predecessor Joko Widodo, had warned about foreign parties attempting to disrupt united efforts at national development in Indonesia.

But Syafi'i Anwar, dean of the faculty of humanities at President University in Bekasi, west Java, emphasized that the riots occurred due to people's dissatisfaction over social inequality and worsening economic conditions.

The writer is a freelance journalist for China Daily.