Thousands of students staged 'Dark Indonesia' protests in cities across the country on Thursday against budget cuts and other policies of President Prabowo Subianto, fearing they will undermine social support systems and their futures.

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Civil society groups across Greater Surabaya are once again staging a protest under the banner of Dark Indonesia ( Indonesia Gelap) today, Friday, February 21, demanding the government pass pro-people laws and revoke harmful policies.

Students rallied in Jakarta and other Indonesian cities on Thursday to protest President Prabowo Subianto’s state budget revamp that has threatened contractual workers’ jobs, rolled back scholarships and dimmed lighting at government offices.

From office lights switched off to out-of-service lifts, Indonesian civil servants are feeling the pinch after President Prabowo Subianto ordered sweeping budget cuts across government that he said will fund his big-ticket campaign pledges.

Thousands of Indonesian students have taken to the streets to protest budget cuts by the Prabowo administration. While the government says the cuts are intended to mitigate wasteful spending and fund a free meals program,