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Rivals Circle an Out-of-Touch Prabowo

The emergence of pro-presidential thugs on the streets of Jakarta is a sign of the times.

Rivals Circle an Out-of-Touch Prabowo

Indonesia is currently experiencing a surge in protests, which have taken a violent turn, with pro-presidential thugs emerging in Jakarta. The government's popularity has plummeted, with a recent poll showing a drastic drop in approval ratings. Amidst this tumultuous atmosphere, a gang called GRIB Jaya, which has deep roots in Prabowo Subianto's political circle, was seen intervening to suppress the unrest.

Reports claim that GRIB Jaya's leader, Rosario de Marcal, has a personal vendetta against the protesters due to Prabowo saving his life during his militia service. Meanwhile, on the other side of the region, Thailand has introduced a stringent new law to curb the behavior of foreign tourists who behave poorly. This law allows for quicker deportation, blacklisting, and banning foreigners from re-entering the country, reflecting the government's concern over the increasing number of foreigners disregarding local customs and rules.

Written by urgent.news from Foreign Policy's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

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