Union of Catholic University Students of the Republic of Indonesia PMKRI with students from various campuses in Jakarta held a protest surrounding the House of Representatives on Tuesday, September 24, 2019. Criminal Code Bill, the new Corruption Eradication Commission Act, the Penitentiary Bill and other laws. Students considered the DPR (House of Representatives) had betrayed the mandate given by the Indonesian people. Parliament is considered pro to investors not to the people.

But, of the many, Criminal Code Bill is the most prominent.

7 Demands of Students:

1. Criminal Code Bill (RKUHP) Students urged a delay in conducting a discussion. Because the articles in the Criminal Code Bill are considered problematic.
2. Revision of the Corruption Eradication Commission Law (KPK)

The government was also urged to cancel the revision of the KPK Law that had just been passed. The KPK Law Revision is considered to make the anti-corruption institution weak in eradicating the actions of corruptors.

3. Environmental Issues

The demands of students in the House of Representatives are related to environmental issues. Students demanded that the state investigate and prosecute the elites responsible for environmental damage in Indonesian territory.

4. Labour Bill: There are also demands to revise the Labour Bill. Students assess the rules are not in favour of the workers.
5. Land Bill: Students also reject the Land Bill in 7 demands. They considered the rule as a form of betrayal of the spirit of agrarian reform.
6. Bill on the Elimination of Sexual Violence (PKS)

In the demonstration, the students requested that the government and the DPR postpone the ratification of the Bill on the Elimination of Sexual Violence (PKS).

7. Criminalization of Activists

Finally, 7  demands are to encourage the democratic process in Indonesia. So far, the state is considered to have criminalized activists.

These controversies which triggered the anger of students so they had to go down the road to protest.

In Jakarta, demonstrations also took place in many cities in Indonesia. Thousands of students demonstrated in Jogja, Bandung, Malang, Balikpapan, Samarinda, Purwokerto and others. Demonstrations in various cities that sounded about the same decision, most of them opposed the Criminal Code Bill and the Revision of the Corruption Eradication Commission Law.

Videos Courtesy: The Jakarta Post