Jakarta protests over corruption laws lead to unrest and mass detentions

Protests in Jakarta escalated into unrest as demonstrators marched on the Indonesian Parliament to demand the passage of the Asset Forfeiture Bill and the imposition of the death penalty for corruption. Protesters called for the seizure of assets linked to graft and criticized years of legislative delays regarding the bill, which was first submitted in May 2023.

Deputy Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad met with representatives and signed a commitment to complete the Asset Forfeiture Bill by December 15. Parliamentary leaders reportedly agreed to resign if this deadline is missed. The movement gained momentum following local protests in Central Java that evolved into a broader anti-corruption campaign.

Following the demonstrations, Jakarta police detained 322 individuals, including 160 minors, for questioning. While most crowds dispersed on Thursday evening, reports indicated that groups of rioters engaged in violence, setting fire to a police post and motorcycles while throwing rocks at security forces. Police responded with water cannons and tear gas. Officials confirmed that one man died in the hospital after losing consciousness during the unrest, and 45 individuals have been named as suspects for violence and damaging public facilities.