INDONESIAN police deployed tear gas and water cannon against thousands of students protesting yesterday against extending the presidential term limit, after rumours swirled for weeks about a potential change to the country’s constitution.
The Southeast Asian country’s next election is in 2024 and President Joko Widodo would not be eligible to run as Indonesia places a two-term limit on its leader.
But senior ministers and several political parties last month suggested the election should be delayed and the constitution amended to allow presidents to serve more than two terms.
Yesterday saw about 2,000 university students gather in front of the House of Representatives building. Indonesia has seen similar rallies sprout across the country in the last week. – April 12, 2022.
Police arrest a man during a rally against high prices of supplies, postponement of presidential elections and an extension of the president's term, in Jakarta, Indonesia. – AFP pic, April 12, 2022.Students block policemen as they rally against moves to extend the presidential mandate in Jakarta, Indonesia. – AFP pic, April 12, 2022.Police spray water on students during a protest outside the parliament building in Jakarta, Indonesia. – EPA pic, April 12, 2022.Police arrest a protester who climbed a fountain near the presidential palace during a protest by students against high prices of supplies, postponement of presidential elections and an extension of the president's term, in Jakarta, Indonesia. - AFP pic, April 12, 2022.Thousands of University students demonstrating against a proposal to extend the presidential mandate are met by police with teargas in Jakarta, Indonesia. – AFP pic, April 12, 2022.A student hurls back a tear gas canister at the police at a rally against extending the presidential mandate, in Jakarta, Indonesia. - AFP pic, April 12, 2022.Women activists call for the Indonesia president to step down at a rally near the presidential palace in Jakarta, Indonesia. – EPA pic, April 12, 2022.Police officers use tear gas to disperse protesters at a rally outside the parliament building in Jakarta, Indonesia. – EPA pic, April 12, 2022.Police officers evacuate an injured pro-government activist who has been attacked by anti-government protesters at a rally outside the parliament building in Jakarta, Indonesia. – EPA pic, April 12, 2022.
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