Kuala Lampur, Aug. 31 -- For three consecutive days, Indonesia has been shaken by violent protests that place its police force-the Polri-directly at the brunt of popular anger.

What began as demonstrations against wage stagnation, rising costs, and political disillusionment has evolved into full-blown attacks on the symbols of state order.

The demands have turned explicitly political: protesters want an immediate halt to the Indonesian National Police's US$8.8billion budget, claiming it epitomizes a corrupt and unaccountable system.

This crisis cuts to the heart of Indonesia's democratic promise. For more than a decade, especially under former President Joko Widodo, the police gained enormous prominence, not only in law enforcement but...