Hundreds of students demonstrate in front of Indonesia's Parliament complex

JAKARTA: Hundreds of students gathered in front of the Parliament complex here to protest the increase in cooking oil prices as well as to reject any plan to extend the the President's stay in office.

Demonstrations organised by the All-Indonesian Student Executive Board were also held simultaneously today in Ambon, Bandung, Makassar, Manokwari, Palembang, Palu, Semarang and Samarinda.

The demonstration continued despite President Joko Widodo, on Sunday, confirming via the Presidential Secretariat Youtube account that the 2024 General Election would not be postponed.

The statement was made to end speculation among the public that the government was trying to delay the election or trying to extend the presidential term or on a related third term.

In Jakarta, students gathered early in the morning at the gate of the National Monument and at the Arjuna Wiwaha Horse Statue roundabout.

Metro Jaya District Police deployed 6,826 personnel to ensure no untoward incidents occurred and 1,333 military personnel were also deployed to help maintain security.

The demonstration ended after student representatives presented their demands to the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives who was accompanied by the National Police Chief, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo at the Parliament complex.

-- BERNAMA