Indonesian police fire tear gas at thousands of students protesting against new laws on extramarital sex and corruption

Indonesian lawmakers are debating an overhaul of the criminal code which would criminalise extramarital sex and restrict contraceptives

Tens of thousands have taken to the streets over the bill, which would also weaken the country’s anti-corruption agency

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Indonesian riot police officers shoot tear gas during clashes with students outside the parliament building in Jakarta. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 10:19pm, 24 Sep 2019Updated: 4:41am, 25 Sep 2019

Police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters outside Indonesia’s parliament on Tuesday as tens of thousands demonstrated nationwide against a new criminal code that would, among other things, outlaw extramarital sex and weaken the country’s anti-corruption agency.

Protesters covered their faces and scattered in all directions as chaos erupted in the centre of the sprawling capital, Jakarta. More than 5,000 police officers have reportedly been deployed to maintain security in the city.

Protesters use sticks to attack riot police. Photo: AP

Thousands had gathered at the front and back entrances to the parliament building, demanding to meet with parliament speaker Bambang Soesatyo, who held a news conference inside urging calm, but refused to answer questions. Water cannons and tear gas were then used in an attempt to clear the crowd.

Police also fired tear gas at rock-throwing protesters in Makassar on Sulawesi island, while demonstrators broke down a barrier outside the governor’s office in Semarang on Java island.

“[We] forcibly dispersed students because they were carrying out anarchist acts, damaging government property and throwing stones at police,” said Dicky Sondani, a South Sulawesi police spokesman.