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
Indonesian lawmakers canceled plans to ratify controversial revisions to the country’s election laws, the deputy speaker of Parliament said, after thousands of protesters rallied in front of the parliament building.
If implemented, the changes could have further enhanced the political influence of outgoing President Joko Widodo.
Parliament met in an emergency session yesterday to overturn one decision made by Indonesia’s Constitutional Court on election procedures, while amending another.
But the legislature canceled the ratification after failing to achieve a quorum amid the protests outside.
“It was stated that the revision of the regional election law cannot be implemented. This means that today the revision of the regional election law will not be implemented,” Deputy Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad told reporters in Jakarta.
Indonesian police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse thousands of protesters who attempted to storm the parliament building after they tore down a section of fence and threw rocks at police.
Protesters occupied roads in front of the building.
Some held banners and signs, while others started a fire and burned tires.
See also Terrorism financing: NLC mobilises for nationwide strike over Ajaeros invitation Following the ongoing face-off between it and Nigeria Police, the leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress has asked its members to be ready to commence a nationwide strike if need be by midnight of Tuesday. The labour centre said in a communique issued after its emergency National Executive Council in Abuja that it had directed all the state chapters and affiliates to mobilise workers for an indefinite strike from midnight if anything happened to the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, who was invited by the police for questioning over terrorism financing allegation. The police invitation to Ajaero comes weeks after policemen conducted a night raid on the NLC national secretariat in Abuja. The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, while justifying the raid, said the police were on the trail of one of the terrorists who masterminded the crisis in Sudan. The police added that the raid was to search for seditious materials in connection to the recent nationwide #EndBadGovernance or hunger protest, which turned violent in parts of the country, particularly in the North, where some protesters were seen waving the Russian flag and demanding President Bola Tinubus resignation. On Monday, the police said Ajaero should appear for questioning at 10 am over allegation of terrorism financing and treasonable felony. But the NLC National Executive Council convened an emergency for Tuesday morning to weigh the situation. Rising from the meeting, the NLC leadership, in their communique, said they viewed Ajaeros summon as a clearly unfounded and politically-motivated investigation. In the communique signed by NLC Deputy President, Ado Sani Minjibir, the congress warned that it will not hesitate to take all necessary actions, including mass protests and industrial actions, to protect the integrity and independence of the labour movement. The NEC directs all affiliates and state councils to immediately commence the process of mobilising their members across the nation. The congress will not hesitate to take all necessary actions, including mass protests and industrial actions, to protect the integrity and independence of the labour movement. If anything happens to the President of the Congress or any other leader of the congress in furtherance of these tendentious allegations by the state; NEC puts all its affiliates and state councils alert to proceed on indefinite nationwide strike action by 12:00 midnight today. The NLC also called on all civil society allies and the general populace to stand in solidarity with the union at this critical moment. The meeting expressed grave concern that rather than extending the demand by the congress for the earlier invasion of its national headquarters by security agencies, the Nigeria Police has chosen to embark on this spurious and fortuitous journey of intimidation, harassment, and witch-hunt. This is nothing but a travesty and a blatant attempt to stifle the voice of the working people and their leadership, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the International Labour Organization Conventions 87 and 98.In light of this, the NEC of the NLC resolves as follows, it said. NLC said that it had decided to honour the police invitation as a responsible labour centre committed to the rule of law and due process. It however added that it would not sit idly while the rights and freedoms of its members and leaders were trampled upon with impunity by the state. The NLC shall honour the invitation extended to its President by the Nigeria Police but will demand for extension of time given the nature of the invitation. However, we wish to state unequivocally that this does not in any way legitimise the baseless allegations levelled against him
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% 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 had planned to ratify the change in a plenary session yesterday.
The moves triggered widespread condemnation on social media and raised concerns about a potential constitutional crisis.
The legislature was forced to cancel passing the law after failing to achieve a quorum.
Widodo, popularly known by his nickname Jokowi, began his second and final five-year term in October 2019 and is not eligible to run again.
He leaves office in October.
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 joined the protest yesterday, 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 center.
Their demands included voting down the regional election bill, respecting the Constitutional Court’s ruling and rejecting political dynasties
Like this:
Like Loading...
Discover more from The STATESMAN Newspaper
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Post Disclaimer
THE STATESMAN NEWSPAPER make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the stories hereon as the statements are purely of the news makers.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from THE STATESMAN NEWSPAPER.
Contact:
Statesman_2004@yahoo.com
