Hundreds of students marched through major Indonesian cities on Monday, defying warnings of a crackdown after a weekend of deadly unrest left eight people dead in the country's worst violence in more than two decades.

The demonstrations, which began last week over lawmakers' spending privileges, have evolved into a broader challenge to President Prabowo Subianto, who has been in office less than a year.

Newsweek has reached out to the Indonesian Foreign Ministry for comment.

The unrest highlights deep dissatisfaction with Indonesia's political establishment, police conduct, and government spending priorities. It is also significant for the world's largest Muslim-majority nation, where political stability is seen as vital for regional security and economic growth.

The crisis marks the most serious challenge yet for Subianto, whose leadership is under scrutiny as protests expand across the Southeast Asian archipelago and capture international attention.

Student groups staged demonstrations in Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Bandung, and Makassar, despite heavy

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