Protesters attempt to storm Indonesia's parliament during a protest against controversial changes to election laws that could further enhance the political influence of outgoing President Joko Widodo, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024.
(AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
Dita Alangkara and Edna Tarigan
The Associated Press
Published Aug. 22, 2024
JAKARTA, Indonesia -
Indonesian police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse thousands of protesters who attempted to storm parliament on Thursday after they tore down a section of fence and threw stones at police. The unrest forced the legislature to delay a vote on controversial changes to election laws that could further enhance the political influence of outgoing President Joko Widodo.
Parliament met in an emergency session to overturn one decision made by the Constitutional Court on election procedures, while amending another.
Protesters occupied roads in front of the parliament building. Some held banners and signs, while others started a fire and burned tires.
The Constitutional Court on Tuesday dismissed a challenge to an age limit that prevents people under 30 from running for regional governorships, which would prevent Widodo's youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep, 29, from running in a regional contest in Central Java.
The court also made it easier for political parties to nominate candidates by cutting back a requirement that they hold 20 per cent of a local legislature.
Parliament on Wednesday passed an emergency motion to change the minimum age to serve as governor to 30 at the time of inauguration and further ease nomination requirements, and planned to ratify the vote in a plenary session on Thursday.Download the CTV News App for breaking news alerts and video on all the top stories
The moves triggered widespread condemnation on social media and raised concerns about a potential constitutional crisis.
The legislature was forced to delay passing the law after failing to achieve a quorum.
Widodo's eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, is the incoming vice president after the same court created an exception to the age limit for the post for former regional leaders. The decision was made while Widodo's brother-in-law, Anwar Usman, was serving as chief justice. Usman was criticized for participating in a case involving a close relative and later dismissed.
Activists, students, workers and Indonesian celebrities and musicians also joined the protest on Thursday, voicing concerns about democracy in Indonesia.
Protests were also reported in other big cities, including Bandung, Yogyakarta, Surabaya and Makassar.
In Yogyakarta, at least 1,000 protesters rallied in front of Yogyakarta’s parliament building, the state palace and the city's ceremonial centre. Their demands included voting down the regional election bill, respecting the Constitutional Court's ruling and rejecting political dynasties.
The simultaneous protests in major cities showed anger at parliament’s efforts to overrule the Constitutional Court decision to allow more candidates to compete in the regional elections, said Yoes Kenawas, a political analyst at Atma Jaya Catholic University. Follow the CTV News channel on WhatsApp
"They also opposed the dynastic politics carried out by President Jokowi,” Kenawas said.
Dita Alangkara and Edna Tarigan
The Associated Press
Published Aug. 22, 2024
JAKARTA, Indonesia -
Indonesian police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse thousands of protesters who attempted to storm parliament on Thursday after they tore down a section of fence and threw stones at police. The unrest forced the legislature to delay a vote on controversial changes to election laws that could further enhance the political influence of outgoing President Joko Widodo.
Parliament met in an emergency session to overturn one decision made by the Constitutional Court on election procedures, while amending another.
Protesters occupied roads in front of the parliament building. Some held banners and signs, while others started a fire and burned tires.
The Constitutional Court on Tuesday dismissed a challenge to an age limit that prevents people under 30 from running for regional governorships, which would prevent Widodo's youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep, 29, from running in a regional contest in Central Java.
The court also made it easier for political parties to nominate candidates by cutting back a requirement that they hold 20 per cent of a local legislature.
Parliament on Wednesday passed an emergency motion to change the minimum age to serve as governor to 30 at the time of inauguration and further ease nomination requirements, and planned to ratify the vote in a plenary session on Thursday.Download the CTV News App for breaking news alerts and video on all the top stories
The moves triggered widespread condemnation on social media and raised concerns about a potential constitutional crisis.
The legislature was forced to delay passing the law after failing to achieve a quorum.
Widodo's eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, is the incoming vice president after the same court created an exception to the age limit for the post for former regional leaders. The decision was made while Widodo's brother-in-law, Anwar Usman, was serving as chief justice. Usman was criticized for participating in a case involving a close relative and later dismissed.
Activists, students, workers and Indonesian celebrities and musicians also joined the protest on Thursday, voicing concerns about democracy in Indonesia.
Protests were also reported in other big cities, including Bandung, Yogyakarta, Surabaya and Makassar.
In Yogyakarta, at least 1,000 protesters rallied in front of Yogyakarta’s parliament building, the state palace and the city's ceremonial centre. Their demands included voting down the regional election bill, respecting the Constitutional Court's ruling and rejecting political dynasties.
The simultaneous protests in major cities showed anger at parliament’s efforts to overrule the Constitutional Court decision to allow more candidates to compete in the regional elections, said Yoes Kenawas, a political analyst at Atma Jaya Catholic University. Follow the CTV News channel on WhatsApp
"They also opposed the dynastic politics carried out by President Jokowi,” Kenawas said.
Protests across Indonesia as parliament delays change to election law
A demonstrator reacts as he holds a cutout of Indonesian President Joko Widodo, during a protest outside the Indonesian Parliament against the revisions to the country's election law, which analysts believe goes through a rushed process of legislation and is designed to block a popular candidate from running as the capital's governor in Jakarta, Indonesia, Aug 22, 2024.
PHOTO: Reuters
August 22, 2024
JAKARTA — Indonesia's parliament postponed ratifying changes to an elections law on Thursday (Aug 22) amid protests in multiple cities, following outcry over legislation seen to strengthen the political influence of outgoing President Joko Widodo.
The plenary session to pass the changes was delayed due to a lack of a quorum, legislator Habiburokhman told reporters outside the parliament building.
It is unclear if parliament will reconvene to pass the law before the registration for regional elections opens next Tuesday.
The parliament planned to ratify changes that would have reversed a ruling by the constitutional court earlier this week. The legislative changes would have blocked a vocal government critic in the race for the influential post of Jakarta governor, and also paved the way for Widodo's youngest son to run in elections in Java this November.
The power struggle between the parliament and the judiciary comes amid a week of dramatic political developments in the world's third-largest democracy, and in the final stretch of the president's second term.
Widodo downplayed the concerns, saying on Wednesday the court ruling and parliamentary deliberations were part of standard "checks and balances".
The home affairs minister said the changes were intended to provide legal certainty.
More than 1,000 demonstrators gathered on Thursday outside the parliament building in Jakarta and across multiple cities in Java, some holding banners accusing Jokowi of destroying democracy. Authorities fired tear gas at demonstrators in Semarang, according to footage from Kompas TV.
"This is the peak of my disdain," said Afif Sidik, a 29-year-old teacher who joined the protest outside parliament.
"This is a republic. It's a democracy, but if its leadership is decided by one person, or an oligarch, we can't accept that."
Legal experts and political analysts have described the power struggle as bordering on a constitutional crisis.
Elections analyst Titi Anggraini characterised the manoeuvre as "constitutional insubordination".
The street protests follow a wave of criticism online, with blue posters featuring the words "Emergency Warning" above Indonesia's national eagle proliferating on social media.
The rupiah and Jakarta's main stock index slumped by midday Thursday, hit by concerns of protests as well as the country's widening current account deficit.
'This is a power struggle'
The Constitutional Court on Tuesday revoked a minimum threshold requirement to nominate candidates in regional elections and kept the minimum age limit of 30 years for candidates.
That ruling effectively blocks the candidacy of the president's 29-year-old son from contesting the race for deputy governor in Central Java, and would allow Anies Baswedan, the current favourite, to run in Jakarta.
But within 24 hours the parliament had tabled an emergency revision to annul the changes.
Read Also
asia
Outgoing Indonesian President Joko Widodo names Prabowo Subianto aides to cabinet
All parties except one, the Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), have agreed to the revision of the law.
"Indonesian democracy is once again at a crucial crossroads," Anies posted on social media platform X, urging legislators to remember its fate rested in their hands.
The parliament is now dominated by a big-tent coalition aligned to the outgoing president, popularly known as Jokowi, and president-elect Prabowo Subianto.
Prabowo, who won a landslide victory in February's elections, will be inaugurated on Oct 20, with Jokowi's eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, as his vice president.
Jokowi is facing mounting criticism for the increasingly bold ways his government is consolidating power, and over the creation of his own political dynasty.
"The ruling of the constitutional court is final and binding," said Bivitri Susanti, from the Jentera School of Law,
"It is not possible for the legislative body to violate the judiciary's ruling. This is a power struggle."
First elected in 2014, Jokowi was at the time hailed as a democratic hero, in large part because he was seen as untethered from the country's entrenched oligarchy and military elite.
The president has been praised for his solid economic record but increasingly criticised for the democratic decline of the country's institutions during his decade in office.
PHOTO: Reuters
August 22, 2024
JAKARTA — Indonesia's parliament postponed ratifying changes to an elections law on Thursday (Aug 22) amid protests in multiple cities, following outcry over legislation seen to strengthen the political influence of outgoing President Joko Widodo.
The plenary session to pass the changes was delayed due to a lack of a quorum, legislator Habiburokhman told reporters outside the parliament building.
It is unclear if parliament will reconvene to pass the law before the registration for regional elections opens next Tuesday.
The parliament planned to ratify changes that would have reversed a ruling by the constitutional court earlier this week. The legislative changes would have blocked a vocal government critic in the race for the influential post of Jakarta governor, and also paved the way for Widodo's youngest son to run in elections in Java this November.
The power struggle between the parliament and the judiciary comes amid a week of dramatic political developments in the world's third-largest democracy, and in the final stretch of the president's second term.
Widodo downplayed the concerns, saying on Wednesday the court ruling and parliamentary deliberations were part of standard "checks and balances".
The home affairs minister said the changes were intended to provide legal certainty.
More than 1,000 demonstrators gathered on Thursday outside the parliament building in Jakarta and across multiple cities in Java, some holding banners accusing Jokowi of destroying democracy. Authorities fired tear gas at demonstrators in Semarang, according to footage from Kompas TV.
"This is the peak of my disdain," said Afif Sidik, a 29-year-old teacher who joined the protest outside parliament.
"This is a republic. It's a democracy, but if its leadership is decided by one person, or an oligarch, we can't accept that."
Legal experts and political analysts have described the power struggle as bordering on a constitutional crisis.
Elections analyst Titi Anggraini characterised the manoeuvre as "constitutional insubordination".
The street protests follow a wave of criticism online, with blue posters featuring the words "Emergency Warning" above Indonesia's national eagle proliferating on social media.
The rupiah and Jakarta's main stock index slumped by midday Thursday, hit by concerns of protests as well as the country's widening current account deficit.
A man carries a placard that reads "In the Constitutional Court's ruling on the wannabe dynasty, know your place" during a protest outside the Indonesian Parliament against the revisions to the country's election law, which analysts believe goes through a rushed process of legislation and is designed to block a popular candidate from running as the capital's governor in Jakarta, Indonesia, Aug 22, 2024.
PHOTO: Reuters
PHOTO: Reuters
'This is a power struggle'
The Constitutional Court on Tuesday revoked a minimum threshold requirement to nominate candidates in regional elections and kept the minimum age limit of 30 years for candidates.
That ruling effectively blocks the candidacy of the president's 29-year-old son from contesting the race for deputy governor in Central Java, and would allow Anies Baswedan, the current favourite, to run in Jakarta.
But within 24 hours the parliament had tabled an emergency revision to annul the changes.
Read Also
asia
Outgoing Indonesian President Joko Widodo names Prabowo Subianto aides to cabinet
All parties except one, the Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), have agreed to the revision of the law.
"Indonesian democracy is once again at a crucial crossroads," Anies posted on social media platform X, urging legislators to remember its fate rested in their hands.
The parliament is now dominated by a big-tent coalition aligned to the outgoing president, popularly known as Jokowi, and president-elect Prabowo Subianto.
Prabowo, who won a landslide victory in February's elections, will be inaugurated on Oct 20, with Jokowi's eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, as his vice president.
Jokowi is facing mounting criticism for the increasingly bold ways his government is consolidating power, and over the creation of his own political dynasty.
"The ruling of the constitutional court is final and binding," said Bivitri Susanti, from the Jentera School of Law,
"It is not possible for the legislative body to violate the judiciary's ruling. This is a power struggle."
First elected in 2014, Jokowi was at the time hailed as a democratic hero, in large part because he was seen as untethered from the country's entrenched oligarchy and military elite.
The president has been praised for his solid economic record but increasingly criticised for the democratic decline of the country's institutions during his decade in office.
No comments:
Post a Comment