Thousands of Indonesian students are expected to stage a protest in Jakarta today, carrying on from last week’s nationwide student protests that descended into violence on several occasions.
Demonstrations led largely by university student activists erupted in cities across Indonesia last week in protest of the government’s action (or inaction) on a number of pressing issues facing the country, including controversial legal reforms, violence in Papua and the ongoing trans-national haze crisis.
The police have been under fire for their heavy-handed reaction to the protests and excessive use of force, including the use of water cannons and tear gas to disperse demonstrations. There are also numerous videos showing alleged incidents of severe police brutality. Hundreds of protesters have been reported injured and at least two have died.
In today’s protest, set to take place outside the Parliament compound in Central Jakarta this afternoon, representatives of the protesters say their demands remain the same as last week but with a couple of crucial additions.
“We have additional demands regarding humanitarianism. We demand the government take responsibility for the victims of [last week’s] protests,” UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta Student Council Chairman Sultan Rivandi told Kompas this morning.
Today’s protest coincides with the last day of the current legislative session in Indonesia, with the student protesters saying that their demands will remain the same for the next batch of legislators who are set to be sworn in tomorrow.
Public disruptions
Several major roads surrounding the Parliament compound, including parts of Jalan Gatot Subroto, Jalan Gerbang Pemuda and Jalan Asia Afrika are closed in anticipation of the protest today, leading to traffic reroutes in the area and expected congestion.
There are also several disruptions to TransJakarta routes, mainly that buses won’t stop at Senayan JCC, Slipi Petamburan, DPR 1 and DPR 2 bus stops. Among those affected are buses on Corridors 4A, 9, 3F and T11.
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