Thousands in Jakarta demand stronger anti-corruption measures
Thousands of people gathered near Indonesia’s parliament building in central Jakarta on August 27, demanding stronger anti-corruption measures and political and social reforms. Channel NewsAsia reports.
Participants’ demands
About a thousand representatives of the Gerakan Rakyat Menggugat (GERAM) alliance, which includes student and civic groups, protested outside the parliamentary complex in the Senayan district from 2:00 p.m. They held signs calling for the confiscation of corrupt officials’ assets and stating that the country must not be defeated by corrupt individuals.
The alliance put forward ten demands. In particular, its members called for President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka to be held accountable for policies they believe have expanded the military’s role, weakened democracy and deepened economic inequality.
The protesters also demanded that the free meal programme and the Merah Putih village cooperatives programme be reviewed and halted, that tax policies they described as burdensome for the population be abolished, that workers’ salaries be increased, and that corrupt officials’ property be confiscated. One participant, Khaerul Alam, said that the demonstrators had come not for violence but to voice their demands. According to CNA, the protest was generally peaceful, although several people climbed the fence of the parliamentary complex.
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Bill and security measures
Earlier that day, representatives of the Pati United Community Alliance (AMPB) from Central Java also protested near parliament. They demanded the adoption of an asset confiscation bill and the introduction of the death penalty for those convicted of corruption.
The bill would allow the state to trace, freeze, seize and confiscate assets linked to economic crimes and corruption without a prior conviction. The document is under consideration by the House of Representatives, which plans to adopt it by December. Some lawmakers, after meeting with AMPB representatives, said that the law would be adopted by December 15. Activists said they would protest again if this does not happen.
To maintain order, Indonesian authorities deployed 18,504 security personnel in Jakarta, distributed across six designated zones, and rerouted traffic near parliament. Antara reported, citing Jakarta police spokesperson Budi Hermanto, that 65 people were detained as part of preventive measures. They are being questioned to determine their roles and whether criminal liability may be involved.
