There’s been riots in Indonesia with at least nine people killed. And there’s political chaos in Thailand as the prime minister is sacked and 15 political parties scramble to form coalitions so they can choose a new PM. So who better to talk to than journalist Erin Cook, who specialises in South-East Asia?
Erin produces the excellent newsletter Dari Mulut ke Mulut, an English-language summary of what’s happening in the region, and an occasional newsletter specifically on the Australia-Indonesia relationship, Flat White, Kopi Susu.
In this episode we talk about those riots in Indonesia, what they’re about, why they kicked off so quickly, and why they probably won’t be as severe as those in 1998. We also try to understand the political chaos in Thailand. And we take a brief look at something happening in China.
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Episode Links
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Following Southeast Asia and Timor-Leste, mostly elections, FP and Instagram posts. Don't complain to me that I don't cover business enough, I do not know of such things.
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Erin Cook's newsletter covering South-East Asia, but in June 2025 it's moving to Substack.
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Erin Cook's newsletter covering South-East Asia, this being its new home from June 2025.
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Erin Cook's other newsletter, specifically about the Australia-Indonesia relationship.
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Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo (EYD: Prabowo Subianto Joyohadikusumo, born 17 October 1951) is an Indonesian politician, businessman and retired honorary army general who is the president-elect of Indonesia and current Minister of Defense. Prabowo will be Indonesia's third president who had military background after Suharto and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY). In 1998, he was discharged from the military and subsequently banned from entering the United States for allegedly committing human rights abuses.
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[30 August 2025] There's no coming back from this one
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On 25 August 2025, protests began in Indonesia as part of a larger civil unrest that began in early 2025 over economic frustrations and a proposed hike in housing subsidies for members of parliament. The protests, which were largely concentrated around the capital Jakarta, grew in intensity and spread nationwide following the killing of Affan Kurniawan, a motorcycle taxi driver who was run over by a Brimob police tactical vehicle on 28 August during a larger violent and excessive crackdown on civil dissent.
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The May 1998 Indonesia riots (Indonesian: Kerusuhan Mei 1998), also known colloquially as the 1998 tragedy (Tragedi 1998) or simply the 98 event (Peristiwa 98), were incidents of mass violence, revolutionary protests, and civil unrest in Indonesia in May 1998, many of which were targeted at Indonesia's ethnic Chinese population. The events were mainly in the cities of Medan, Jakarta and Surakarta, with small incidents in other regions of the country.
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[2 September 2025] Protests in Indonesia against alleged government corruption and police brutality are ongoing. The military has been deployed to break up demonstrations. Protesters are angry about wage inequality and the benefits granted to members of parliament
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[29 August 2025] Hundreds of Indonesian motorcycle ride-sharing riders gathered at a cemetery in Jakarta on Friday (Aug 29) for the funeral of a delivery rider who was killed by a police vehicle a day earlier during clashes between protesters and the police. The 21-year-old rider, Affan Kurniawan, was hit during the incident near the parliament on Thursday as police were trying to disperse demonstrators protesting against several issues, including lawmakers’ pay and education funding.
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[2 October 2022] Police and match organisers under scrutiny after officers fired teargas in response to rioting fans.
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[2 September 2025] Protests in Jakarta are taking a step back with lower numbers of demonstrators, as well as the government announcing concessions on some of its policies that sparked unrest against inequality and corruption in Jakarta. But this comes after soldiers joined police in the effort to maintain order.
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[1 September 2025] An Iron Man figurine, luxury watches and designer bags were among items looted from Indonesian politician Ahmad Sahroni’s home by protestors enraged by his dismissive comments about those who called for the dissolution of parliament. Protests were sparked by the announcement of a new allowance package for lawmakers in Indonesia, which resulted in demonstrations across the country since Aug 25.
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Glodok (Chinese: 裹踱刻; pinyin: guǒ duó kè) is an urban village of Taman Sari, West Jakarta, Indonesia. The area is also known as Pecinan or Chinatown since the Dutch colonial era, and is considered the biggest in Indonesia. Majority of the traders and residents of Glodok are Chinese descent.
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[2 September 2025] President Prabowo Subianto will join international leaders to attend the Victory Day parade in Beijing after initiating canceling his trip.
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[26 August 2025] As 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, CGTN presents "Forging a Peaceful Future," a special series of in-depth news analyses. These stories delve into the history, explore the post-war world order, and highlight how China's past has shaped its sustained contributions to global peace today.
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[3 September 2025] Laser weapons, nuclear ballistic missiles and giant underwater drones were among the new weapons China unveiled at a massive military parade.
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[17 June 2025] President Trump's birthday parade featured low turnout and squeaky tanks, the champagne was flowing over at Fox News, and over five million Americans hit the streets to protest against the president's despotic behavior.
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[30 August 2025] Thailand’s Constitutional Court has removed Prime Minister Paetongtharn Shinawatra from office, ruling that she violated the constitution. The case stems from a leaked phone conversation suggesting she was too conciliatory toward former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
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[29 August 2025] The Constitutional Court has ruled that Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra violated ethical standards in her leaked voice call with Cambodia’s de facto leader Hun Sen, and is to be removed from office as a result.
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This list of political parties in Thailand names current and disbanded Thai political parties.
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[2 September 2025] Opposition party denies Bhumjaithai rumour, challenges Pheu Thai to dissolve the House.
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On 22 May 2014, the Royal Thai Armed Forces, led by General Prayut Chan-o-cha, the commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army, launched a coup d'état, the twelfth since the country's first coup in 1932, against the caretaker government following six months of political crisis.
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[2 September 2025] Political maneuvering continues.
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