JAKARTA —
Indonesian police deployed tear gas and water
cannon against thousands of students protesting Monday against extending the
presidential term limit, after rumors swirled for weeks about a potential
change to the country’s constitution.
اضافة اعلان
The Southeast Asian country’s next election is in
2024 and
President Joko Widodo would not be eligible to run as Indonesia places
a two-term limit on its leader.
Senior ministers and several political parties last
month suggested the election should be delayed and the constitution amended to
allow presidents to serve more than two terms.
Monday saw about 2,000 university students gather in
front of the House of Representatives building. Indonesia has seen similar
rallies sprout across the country in the last week.
“We demand the House of Representatives not betray
the constitution by making an amendment and we firmly reject delaying the 2024
election,” protest coordinator Luthfi Yufrizal said in a statement.
Police later fired tear gas and water cannon to
disperse the protesters, according to AFP reporters on the scene.
Jakarta police chief Fadil Imran said those tactics
were used after a group of protesters assaulted Ade Armando, an academic widely
seen to be pro-Widodo.
Armando had suffered injuries on his head after
being trampled by angry protesters, police said.
An unverified video showed Armando bleeding, his
face badly swollen, as police officers hauled him away.
Imran said six officers were also attacked and
injured while attempting to evacuate the academic.
“We promised to take a strict action against anyone
who broke the law and is the mastermind of this incident,” the police chief
said, adding that a total of 80 protesters were detained.
The debate on delaying the election and extending
the presidential term has gathered steam since March, despite Widodo himself
rebuking the suggestions multiple times.
On Sunday, he reiterated that it was “speculation”.
“The schedules for the presidential and regional
election of 2024 have been agreed. It’s all clear,” Widodo said in a tweet.
“Don’t be provoked by insignificant political interests.”
But critics said his objection to the proposals came
far too late, only fueling the furor.
Twice-elected Widodo — popularly known as Jokowi — enjoys
wide support in the country of 270 million, but dissatisfaction has
increasingly mounted as Southeast Asia’s biggest economy sees a slowdown amid
pandemic-spurred global shortages and residents grapple with rising fuel
prices.
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