If you’ve been scrolling through Instagram or X (formerly Twitter) lately, you’ve probably seen the numbers: 17+8. At first, it looks like a date. But this viral symbol has quickly transformed into the rallying cry of Indonesia’s latest protest wave, blending street action with digital solidarity.

Public figures, students, and everyday citizens have joined forces to push what’s now known as the “17+8 People’s Demands.” It’s a blueprint for immediate fixes and long-term reforms—17 demands with a one-week deadline and 8 demands with a one-year deadline.

 
The 17 Demands (Deadline: September 5, 2025)
These are urgent actions the public wants addressed within days, targeting state institutions from the presidency to the military:

1. Pull the TNI (military) out of civil security duties; stop criminalizing demonstrators.
2. Create an independent investigation team into cases like Affan Kurniawan, Umar Amarudin, and other victims of protest violence.
3. Freeze DPR salary/allowance hikes and cancel new facilities (including lifelong pensions).
4. Publish transparent breakdowns of DPR budgets (salaries, benefits, housing, facilities).
5. Push the DPR Ethics Council to investigate problematic members (including via KPK).
6. Dismiss or sanction DPR members acting unethically or fueling public anger.
7. Publicly commit political parties to stand with the people in times of crisis.
8. Involve party cadres in public dialogue with students and civil society.
9. Release all detained demonstrators.
10. Stop police violence and strictly follow crowd-control SOPs.
11. Prosecute transparently any officers/commanders involved in human rights abuses.
12. Order the military back to the barracks; end its civil security involvement.
13. Enforce internal discipline so TNI does not take over police functions.
14. Public commitment from TNI to stay out of civilian space during democratic crises.
15. Guarantee fair wages for all workers (teachers, laborers, health workers, and ride-hailing partners included).
16. Take emergency measures to prevent mass layoffs and protect contract workers.
17. Open direct dialogue with labor unions about minimum wage and outsourcing solutions. 

The 8 Demands (Deadline: August 31, 2026)
These are structural reforms expected within a year, targeting corruption, governance, and systemic change:

1. Massive DPR Reform: Independent audits published publicly, stricter entry standards (ban ex-corruptors), KPI-based performance evaluation, and abolishment of lifelong pensions and special perks.
2. Political Party Reform & Stronger Oversight: Parties must publish financial reports this year; DPR must ensure the opposition works effectively.
3. Fairer Tax Reform: Rebalance central-to-regional transfers; scrap unfair tax hikes; draft a fairer tax reform plan.
4. Pass the Asset Confiscation Law for Corruptors: DPR must ratify the bill this year; strengthen KPK’s independence and anti-corruption law.
5. Police Reform: Revise the Police Law to ensure professionalism and humanity; decentralize policing functions like public order, security, and traffic management within 12 months.
6. TNI Fully Back to the Barracks: Cancel TNI involvement in civilian projects (like food estates) and begin revising the TNI Law.
7. Strengthen Komnas HAM and Independent Oversight: Expand Komnas HAM’s authority; reinforce Ombudsman and National Police Commission (Kompolnas).
8. Review Economic & Labor Policies: Reassess PSN (National Strategic Projects) and economic priorities with indigenous rights and environment in mind; evaluate the Job Creation Law and BUMN/“Danantara” governance.

Why Colors Matter: Pink, Green, and Blue
Alongside the list, social media feeds are exploding with visuals in pink, green, and blue. Each color has its story:

• Brave Pink: Inspired by a mother in a pink scarf at protests—now a symbol of courage.
• Hero Green: Honors Affan Kurniawan, an ojek driver who died during demonstrations—green is tied to the ride-hailing community.
• Resistance Blue: Drawn from “Emergency Alert” Garuda imagery, representing unity and urgency.

Far beyond hashtags, these colors are now the visual identity of a generation’s fight for justice and accountability.

 
The Bottom Line
The 17+8 People’s Demands aren’t just slogans—they’re a detailed manifesto, combining the immediacy of social media with the structure of policy advocacy. For Indonesia’s youth, it’s proof that activism today isn’t confined to the streets; it’s in your stories, your timelines, and the conversations shaping tomorrow.

Because in the end, 17+8 isn’t about math—it’s about making every voice count.