TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Security forces fire water cannon at protesters outside House building
Thousands of demonstrators gathered outside the House building Thursday some breaching part of a fence, but few daring to cross it.
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
A demonstrator points as they clash with riot police during a protest against planned controversial revisions to election law outside the House of Representatives building in Jakarta, August 22, 2024. (Reuters/Willy Kurniawan)
S
ecurity forces fired water cannon outside the House of Representatives building in Jakarta on Thursday at protesters were demanding lawmakers drop their plan for a controversial revision of election rules, local television channels reported.
Thousands of demonstrators gathered outside the House building Thursday some breaching part of a fence, but few daring to cross it.
Others draped banners accusing Jokowi of destroying democracy, and carried colourful banners and props, including a mock guillotine featuring the president's face.
Protests were held in multiple cities across the country, with tear gas fired at demonstrators in Semarang, TV footage showed.
The government of President Joko "Jokowi" urged people to avoid disinformation that could lead to violence, the president's spokesperson said on Thursday.
Hasan Nasbi also said that the government's stance on the changing of an election law was to follow existing rules if proposed amendments have not been ratified by the House.
The House has postponed the ratification of controversial changes to the regional elections law that had initially been scheduled for Thursday, due to a lack of quorum, legislator Habiburokhman told reporters on Thursday.
It was not immediately clear when the ratification would take place. The changes would have blocked a vocal government critic in the race for the influential post of Jakarta governor, and also paved the way for President Joko Widodo's youngest son to run in elections in Java in November.
