Thousands of Indonesia's university students in various regions have once again taken to the streets in protest against revisions of several laws including on Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and Criminal Code (KUHP) that could lead to democracy regress.
In Jakarta, students from various universities, including from out of the capital city, staged protests in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) Building on Tuesday, demanding legislators to cancel the passage of the controversial bills.
The students among others came from the University of Indonesia (UI), the State University of Jakarta (UNJ), Trisakti University, Veteran State University (UPN), the University of Gadjah Mada (UGM), Padjajaran University, and the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB).
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In the afternoon, thousands of police officers guarding the Parliament Building tried to pressure the students to leave the Parliament compound by using water cannon and tear gas, while students pushed the Parliament Building's gate.In Jakarta, students from various universities, including from out of the capital city, staged protests in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) Building on Tuesday, demanding legislators to cancel the passage of the controversial bills.
The students among others came from the University of Indonesia (UI), the State University of Jakarta (UNJ), Trisakti University, Veteran State University (UPN), the University of Gadjah Mada (UGM), Padjajaran University, and the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB).
Related news: Minister urges students to halt demonstrations to reject draft bills
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The Jakarta Police deployed some 18 thousand police officers to guard the Parliament building. The protest began in the morning and lasted until evening.
In solidarity with the students in Jakarta, thousands of university students across Indonesia also staged similar protests, including in Solo, Palembang, Medan, Bandung, Garut, Malang, Surabaya, Yogyakarta, Makassar, Denpasar, Tarakan, and Palangka Raya.
The rally in Makassar, South Sulawesi, turned into a chaos when the students threw stones, and police fired tear gas and beat students with clubs.
Three journalists including the ones from Antara news agency and Makassartoday online media, were injured as they were also beaten by police officers trying to stop them from taking pictures while the policemen were beating the students.
"I did not listen to their order to not taking pictures, so they grabbed me and kicked my stomach and back," Ishak from Makassartoday, said. "As for Darwin (Antara's journalist), (he was) pulled into a hallway and beaten," he added.
Similar rallies have taken place since the last several days across Indonesia.
Translator: Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
