Hundreds of women wearing pink and wielding broomsticks marched to parliament in Indonesia's capital on Wednesday to protest against police abuses and wasteful government spending.

Protests in Jakarta and other key cities have stretched into their second week, fueled by anger over cost of living issues and lavish perks for MPs.

They turned violent after young motorcycle taxi driver Affan Kurniawan was killed when he was run over by a police vehicle.

As protests intensified, President Prabowo Subianto said he would cancel a trip to Beijing to attend China's massive military parade, but he was seen posing for a group photo on Wednesday, alongside Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Before his China trip, Prabowo said over the weekend that he would roll back perks for lawmakers - one of the core complaints of the protesters.

During Wednesday's rally, pink-clad female protesters from the Indonesian Women's Alliance (IWA) said the broomsticks symbolised their desire to 'sweep away the dirt of the state, militarism and police repression'.

The protesters also waved signs with the words 'reform the police'.

'Protests are not crimes, but rather democratic rights inherent in every citizen,' one of the protesters, Mutiara Ika, told BBC Indonesia.

The IWA comprises 90 women's organisations and movements, including labor unions and human rights groups.

The women's movement has a history of standing up to regimes in Indonesia, notably playing a crucial role during the 1998 reform movement against Suharto's authoritarian rule. The IWA says their choice of the colour pink symbolises bravery.

Online, people are customizing their social media profiles with 'hero green' and 'brave pink' filters in solidarity.

The United Nations' human rights office has called for 'prompt, thorough, and transparent investigations' on allegations of human rights violations.

Amnesty International Indonesia has warned that the state must meet the demands of the people to prevent further casualties. At least 10 people have reportedly died during the recent protests, with many more injured.

President Prabowo announced cuts to politicians' perks in an effort to quell the unrest, but some believe this does not address deeper issues of governance and accountability. The ultimate goal is to push for a more accountable, transparent, and citizen-centered governance.