Students Hold Another Election Law Protest at DPR Today
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23 August 2024 21:02 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Students are seen holding another protest in front of the House of Representatives or DPR main gate today, Friday, August 23, 2024. Some of the students wear the alma mater of Djuanda University in Bogor.
According to Tempo’s observation on the ground, protesters come from several universities, including Bandung Insitute of Technology (ITB), Indraprasta University, Pasundan University, and Djuanda University.
“Before the General Elections Commission (KPU) Regulation for the 2024 regional head election is officially released, there is still a possibility (of the Constitutional Court’s decision overturn). We are trying to shut it down,” the president of the Djuanda University Student Executive Board (BEM) Ruben Bentiyan said.
Ruben came with around 120 students of Djuanda University. Ruben claimed the students are part of Indonesia’s Student Executive Board (BEM Seluruh Indonesia).
Some students are seen giving speeches in front of the protesters. “Why are we taking action? Because the Deputy House Speaker yesterday only gave us a ‘statement’,” one of the students said through a speaker in front of the DPR main gate.
Yesterday’s protest ended in chaos, with police seen arresting the gathering mass. Some protesters were taken to hospitals. The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) recorded as many as 159 protesters were detained by police. “We want those arrested to be released soon and guaranteed access to legal assistance in the process,” Komnas HAM commissioner Anis Hidayah told Tempo on Friday.
The protests held these past two days are caused by DPR’s attempt to overturn Constitutional Court rulings on regional head elections requirements. The Indonesian people considered DPR’s attempt to circumvent the court decisions without public consultation to destroy the country’s democratic principles.
JIHAN RISTIYANTI | ADE RIDWAN YANDWIPUTRA
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