Indonesians march on parliament to demand crackdown on corruption

What the report says

Thousands of Indonesians marched in Jakarta on Thursday, August 28, to pressure parliament to strengthen anti-corruption laws and punish officials more harshly, according to Al Jazeera’s report based on AFP and Reuters. The demonstrations took place outside the national legislature and came exactly one year after earlier anti-government unrest that escalated into riots, leaving about 10 people dead and nearly 7,000 arrested, the article said.

Protesters focused on a long-stalled asset forfeiture bill first introduced in 2008 that would let the state seize property linked to corruption. Some demonstrators also called for the death penalty for corrupt officials. Al Jazeera reported that a group of lawmakers met with representatives of the United Pati Community Alliance and, through its leader Sopriyano, promised to resign if the bill is not passed by December 15.

The article said riot police kept the crowd behind locked gates for much of the day, while Jakarta police deployed 18,500 officers and detained 65 people before the march on suspicion of being provocateurs. After dark, AFP reported that some protesters threw objects, prompting tear gas and a water cannon response; a police post and a motorcycle were set on fire, and several people were taken away on stretchers.

Students also protested in Yogyakarta and Makassar. In Jakarta, student groups joined the rally to oppose corruption allegations around a free school meal programme, criticize the militarisation of society, and call for lower food prices. The demonstrations highlight continuing public anger over graft in Indonesia and pressure on lawmakers to act on long-delayed reform.