Oscar Grenfell
Over the past week, mass protests have erupted in Indonesia’s major cities against attempts by the government of President Joko Widodo to introduce a repressive new criminal code and the rushed passage last week of legislation that will weaken an official anti-corruption body.
The demonstrations, which have been led by university students, have been met with violent police repression in a clear sign the authorities fear they could become a focal point of broader social opposition. They are among the largest anti-government student protests since the mass movement of workers and youth that toppled the Suharto “New Order” dictatorship in 1998.
Indonesian student protesters, Credit: @makmummasjid (Twitter)
The rallies followed Widodo’s presentation of the proposed new criminal code to parliament on September 15. The new laws, which would replace legislation dating back to the period of Dutch colonial rule, contain a number of anti-democratic measures apparently aimed at appeasing conservative Islamist forces, whose political influence has grown over recent years.
They have been brought forward in the wake of a fractious election contest during which Widodo’s main challenger for the presidency, Subianto Prabowo, sought to mobilise hardline Islamists as a key constituency of his campaign. All factions of the Indonesian ruling class are backing increasingly authoritarian measures, amid expanding economic, social and environmental crises.
Opponents of the code have warned that at least 18 provisions would impinge on the civil liberties and personal lives of ordinary people.
Extramarital sexual relations would be outlawed and punishable with up to a year’s imprisonment, while measures would target homosexuals and unmarried couples who cohabitate. The bill provides for a four-year jail sentence for women convicted of having unauthorised abortions.
There are also fears that the legislation could boost the authority of Sharia Muslim laws which operate at a local level in a number of provinces.
The religiously-inspired character of the code is demonstrated by its inclusion of a ban on so-called “black magic.” The dictatorial laws would also ban individuals from associating with any group accused of being Marxist or communist, and penalise “insulting” the president and other government executives.
Protests erupted on Monday, the day before the code was originally scheduled to be voted upon by the national parliament.
On Tuesday, tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered outside the parliament building in Jakarta.
The authorities responded with mass repression, with heavily armed police officers firing tear gas and water cannons at the protesters. Reuters cited police figures indicating that at least 365 students and 39 police officers were injured during clashes.
Despite this, protesters have continued to gather in the capital throughout the week. Mass rallies have also been held in Surabaya, the country’s second largest city, as well as in Padang, on West Sumatra, and Gorontalo, Sulawesi. Smaller rallies have been held in cities and towns throughout the archipelago.
No comments:
Post a Comment