In pics: Indonesian police fire tear gas and water canon at students protesting
Presidential term limited to two tenures
The Southeast Asian country has its next election in 2024 and the current President Joko Widodo wouldn’t be eligible for the next term as the country’s constitution limits the Indonesia’s president to two terms.
However, some senior ministers and a number of political groups last months recommended that the election to be postponed and the constitution allowing the current president to serve for more than two terms.
Protesters showed disagreement
Nearly two thousand students gathered in front of the House of representative building to show a disagreement about these rumours.
One of the protest coordinators, Luthfi Yufrizal in a statement said, “We demand the House of Representatives not betray the constitution by making an amendment and we firmly reject delaying the 2024 election.”
Police fired tear gas and water canon
According to AFP reporters on the scene, police used tear gas and water canon to disperse the protester.
The Indonesian Police chief Imran later said that these tactics were use after a group of protesters assaulted Ade Armando, a scholar commonly recognised as pro-Widodo.
Protesters detained
The police chief later stated, “We promised to take a strict action against anyone who broke the law and is the mastermind of this incident,” He further added that 80 protesters have been detained.
Widodo's denial
Despite current president’s repeated denial to the topic of postponing the election and extending his term has gained traction since March this year. He maintained on Sunday that it was “speculation.”
Widodo in a tweet said, “"The schedules for the presidential and regional election of 2024 have been agreed. It's all clear. Don't be provoked by insignificant political interests."
His criticisers on the other hand said his denial to the proposal came too late and is just for fuelling the furore.
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