Massage against politicians’ greed led to demonstrations at the end of August Indonesia, which demanded significant reforms of the political system and police forces. Civil society groups played a key role in these events.
The demonstrations triggered the plans of well -paid politicians in the Indonesian representative room to enhance their housing resources tremendously. Their later mockery of public criticism only set the situation.
As the demonstrations led to the victims – especially the death of a taxi driver over a police vehicle – public anger increased, leading to riots. Public buildings, including police stations and regional legislators, came on fire and the homes of some visible politicians were robbed.
Police have since launched tremendous systematic hunting for activists.
By the end of September, the police had arrested thousands of protesters and named 959 suspects (equivalent to those accused in the Australian system). They included 295 children, mostly high school students.
Among the detainees are young activists who played an important role in organizing and promoting demonstrations. These are:
- Delpedro Marhaen, Head of the Human Rights Organization of the Lokataru Foundation;
- I deepen Husein, activist associated with Gejayan Menggil; and
- Muhammad Fakhrurrozi, an activist linked to the institute of the Yogyakarta social movement.
They all have been accused of inciting violence in accordance with the Criminal Code and vaguely formed by the law of electronic information and transactions.
The responses of the government
The office of President Prabowo Subanto has not made statements on the arrests of civil society leaders. However, Prabowo appoints the Commission to speed up the reform of national police as a result of demonstrations as a result of public requirements.
The National Police Chief has also set up a new group to renew troops consisting of more than 50 officers and advice from researchers and NGO activists.
However, civil society groups have questioned the clarity and severity of these reform efforts, especially considering that most members of the latter group are the police themselves.
In addition, the police chief has recently issued a new regulation that expands the use of forced measures, including firearms, in response to the police in the so-called police. Attacks.
Many fear that this is used to justify the excessive use of force against future protesters.
What is the next one?
It is unlikely that the August demonstrations will be the last. None of the underlying issues that have caused them-careful decision-making, growing poverty, the greed of politicians, and police abuse have not been resolved. The demands of the protesters, which are presented in their manifesto, are largely unnoticed.
In fact, recent arrests suggest that authorities expect more problems. Although many of the arrested were later released, their arrests are still a frightening warning to civil society.
Authorities clearly believe that the demonstration movement can expand its influence through social media. So their activities are actually aimed at a broader audience, especially for high school and university students, who will otherwise return to future activists -led demonstrations.
In addition, arrests have kept civil society groups busy to respond to the criminal charges encountered by hundreds of arrested. This has shifted attention to the main goals of a broader demonstration movement.
The fund has a significant impact on the future of Indonesia. Civil society organizations are policy development engines in the country. They also play an important role in monitoring and keeping the government.
Democratic regression, which Indonesia has experienced over the last decade, has weakened many previous controls and balances that restrict management. If the civil society is now unable to operate freely, there is very little politicians whose abuse of abuse is very few.
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