Protester demand that the government overturn the election result in Indonesia
Police officers take a break behind a pile of riot shields. (JG Photo/Yudha Baskoro). Sketched by the Pan Pacific Agency.
JAKARTA, May 22, 2019, Jakarta Global. Supporters of losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto rallied in front of the Election Supervisory Agency, or Bawaslu, headquarters on Jalan Thamrin in Central Jakarta on Tuesday to protest the result of last month’s presidential election, which saw Prabowo’s rival Joko “Jokowi” Widodo winning re-election, reported the Jakarta Global.
Police officers stood guard at the Sarinah intersection since Tuesday morning. Protesters started coming to the Bawaslu office at 2 p.m., shouting that the 2019 election was the “worst election in Indonesian history.” Just before dusk, they threw roses past a police barricade as a symbol of peace.
Many of the protesters were still fasting and they took their iftar (breaking-the-fast meal) out on the streets at the Sarinah intersection and then performed tarawih (Ramadan evening prayer) together.
Police had ordered the protesters to disperse after they finished their evening prayer, but hundreds of them stayed on after.
Police and soldiers made a barricade on Jalan Thamrin to block the mob. Just after 9 p.m. most of the protesters heeded the police warning and left the area. Those who stayed were involved in skirmishes with the security officers, and police were forced to fire tear gas to disperse the crowd.
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