Jakarta, Aug. 14 -- President Prabowo Subianto has expressed regret over a violent mass protest in Pati district, Central Java, which demanded the resignation of the district head, Sudewo, over controversial taxation decisions.

"Of course, Mr. President regrets the incident," State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi said at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday.

He informed that the President is monitoring the situation after the protest, which was sparked by Sudewo's now-shelved plan to raise local land and building taxes by 250 percent and his perceived hostile remarks toward public opposition to the proposal.

Referring to the public's outrage over those remarks, Hadi emphasized that the central government has repeatedly urged central...