Indonesia names retired general Djamari Chaniago as security minister after deadly protests

President Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday appointed retired Gen. Djamari Chaniago, 77, as coordinating minister for politics and security, filling a key Cabinet post left vacant after violent protests that left 10 people dead late last month.

The unrest erupted after reports that all 580 members of Indonesia’s House of Representatives had received a monthly housing allowance of 50 million rupiah (about $3,075), a sum nearly 10 times the minimum wage in Jakarta. Demonstrations escalated after the death of ride-hailing driver Affan Kurniawan, who was struck by a police vehicle, and spread into widespread clashes with security forces. The protests prompted the removal of five ministers, including Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, and intensified scrutiny of the government’s response to the unrest.

Budi Gunawan, the outgoing coordinating minister, was removed earlier this month without an immediate successor. Local media and analysts said Gunawan’s dismissal was linked to his absence from key meetings and an apparent failure to coordinate promptly with military and police leaders as unrest spread. The president did not publicly give a reason for the earlier dismissals.

Chaniago, a former career general and one-time rival of Subianto, served among seven senior officers on the Officers Council of Honor during an investigation in 1998 into the abduction of activists in the final days of Suharto’s rule. That probe found Subianto guilty of "misinterpreting the orders" of his superiors. Subianto was dishonorably discharged in 1998 amid the controversy, and several soldiers were later tried and convicted in relation to the kidnappings. Of 22 activists taken that year, 13 remain missing.

Analysts say Subianto’s choice of Chaniago signals a bid to solidify support among senior military figures and the old political elite as he seeks to stabilize his administration. "Prabowo needs broad support, including from senior military personnel and the old elite who once stood against him, to realize his big agenda as Indonesia's new leader," said Selamat Ginting, a political and military observer at the National University. "Uniting them is not just a matter of ‘forgiveness,’ but a consolidation strategy to strengthen the legitimacy and stability of the government."

At a ceremony at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Subianto also swore in three other ministers who had been removed without immediate replacements. Among them, Erick Thohir moved from minister of state-owned enterprises to minister of youth and sports. Thohir, a businessman and former owner of the Italian club Inter Milan and U.S. club D.C. United, has been viewed as a close ally of former President Joko Widodo and has chaired the Football Association of Indonesia since 2023.

The appointments come as Subianto faces one of the sternest tests of his presidency since taking office, with public anger focused on perceived elite privileges and the conduct of security forces during the protests. The moves to replace several ministers reflect an effort to reconfigure the Cabinet and respond to criticism over the handling of the unrest, but the president has not detailed further policy changes or a broader reshuffle timetable.