Rally at Palace; Police Close Off Roads with Barbed Wire
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17 October 2019 13:08 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Police have started to close off access to Merdeka Palace with barbed wire today, Oct. 17, before the planned student rally staged by university students this afternoon.
At around 11:05 a.m., barbed wire fences have blocked the capital's main roads, including Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, before the building of the Tourism Ministry.
In addition, several police tactical vehicles have stand guard at the side, such as water cannon and barracuda. A number of police officers have secured the closed areas.
The National Association of University Students' Executive Bodies (BEM-SI) of Jakarta Greater Area and Banten announced it would take to the streets at State Palace today afternoon, Oct. 17.
The media coordinator Ghozi Basyir said 2,000 students would join the student rally, demanding President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo releases a regulation in lieu of law or Perpu to annul the recently amended Law on the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
The students assessed that the law revisions ratified by the House of Representatives (DPR), which would take effect starting today, would clip the anti-graft body’s wings. They also accused the House held the bill discussions secretly.
TAUFIQ SIDDIQ
