Broken bones, head injuries and respiratory problems: More than 300 students were hospitalized after protests in Indonesia's capital Jakarta, some of them seriously injured. This was confirmed by a police spokesman on Wednesday. Also 39 police officers were injured.
After dark, there were violent clashes on Tuesday evening, the spokesman said. There were 94 people arrested. Thousands of students and students took to the streets during the protests. According to media reports angry demonstrators threw stones at the parliament building, the police used water cannons and tear gas against the demonstrators. There were also protests in other Indonesian cities.
The students took to the streets against a recent law that severely weakened the country's anti-corruption agency. In addition, they protested against a whole series of tightening laws, which provide for high penalties for, among other things, extramarital sex, insulting the president or abortions. The organization "Human Rights Watch" described the changes in the law as "disastrous not only for women and minorities, but for all Indians".
Only a few months ago, the country had already cracked down on its citizens: in May, thousands demonstrated against the re-election of current President Joko Widodo. As a result, the state closed social networks.
