The government has vowed to respond positively to demands raised during mass demonstrations in late August 2025, although not all of them can be fulfilled immediately, Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration, and Correctional Institutions, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, said on Monday, September 8, 2025.

Speaking after a high-level coordination meeting with ministers and heads of state commissions at the Coordinating Ministry for Law and Human Rights, Yusril acknowledged the urgency and breadth of the public’s grievances, which have been consolidated into what organizers call the “17+8 People’s Demands.”

“The government will certainly provide a positive response, even though not all of the demands can be immediately fulfilled, as some require more time and inter-agency coordination,” Yusril told reporters.

The government, he said, is preparing a cross-sectoral approach to address demands ranging from legal reform to human rights accountability. Among the actionable items, Yusril noted the government’s intention to clarify its position to the public and communicate concrete follow-up measures.

“This is the time for the government to explain to the public what responses are being made and what kind of coordination is being prepared,” he added.

Yusril emphasized that not all demands are directed at the executive branch. Some, he said, fall within the purview of the House of Representatives (DPR), and he expressed confidence that lawmakers would respond constructively.

“We believe the DPR will also respond positively to the demands of our people,” he said. “Only some are addressed to the government, and we are committed to addressing them seriously.”

Among the more sensitive demands, Yusril said, are calls for accountability related to violence during the protests. These include legal action against rioters who looted and burned public property, as well as against law enforcement officers accused of excessive force and human rights violations.

“There are calls for the government to take firm action, not only against those who committed acts of vandalism and looting but also against security officers who acted outside the boundaries of legal norms and human rights,” Yusril said.

The protests, which drew tens of thousands of participants in major cities across the country, were largely peaceful but marred by isolated incidents of violence and a reported crackdown by security forces in some areas.

Reform commitments

Yusril noted that some of the broader reform aspirations expressed by protestors such as revisions to key legislation and systemic institutional changes will require long-term planning and may only be addressed after the 2029 general elections.

The minister concluded by reiterating the government’s intention to provide transparent and timely updates on how it plans to meet public demands.

“Legal reform and other long-term changes will take time, but that does not mean the government is ignoring them,” he said.