Opinion | Jokowi is not a real reformer – just ask Indonesian students

Thousands of students have taken to the streets to protest against changes to the country’s laws, clashing with police in scenes reminiscent of the unrest rocking Hong Kong

The protests show the complexity of the Indonesian electorate’s expectations, which go beyond bread-and-butter issues and economic development

Reading Time:4 minutes

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has signed into law a bill critics say will curtail the powers of the Corruption Eradication Commission. Photo: Reuters

Published: 1:34pm, 9 Oct 2019Updated: 1:22pm, 12 Dec 2019

Tens of thousands of Indonesian students have taken to the streets in recent weeks to demonstrate against what they see as a weakening of democracy, just as Indonesian President Joko Widodo is set to be inaugurated for his second term on October 20.

The protests were prompted by a recently passed bill that critics say will curtail the powers of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), and efforts to change the penal code to criminalise premarital sex, abortions and “insults” against state institutions.

The changes to the KPK law could have been vetoed by Widodo, who is commonly known as Jokowi. It needed the assent of both the president and the 575-member House of Representatives (DPR) – as parliament is called – in order to pass. Instead, Jokowi signed it into law.

The president, in an interview with media outlet Bloomberg last week, appeared unfazed by the protests, in which police used tear gas and water cannons on youngsters in scenes reminiscent of the unrest rocking Hong Kong. At least two students died and over 500 youngsters were arrested.

Jokowi said it was acceptable for people to express their opinions “but the most important thing is no anarchy, no riots, no destroying public facilities”.

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