Indonesia: Students to stage protest at parliament

Indonesian students have called a fresh demonstration at the parliament building in the capital Jakarta on Thursday after deadly protests swept through the world's third-largest democracy last week.

A statement posted on Instagram by a coalition of student bodies, known as BEM SI, urged people to join what it deemed a "peace action."

"Public unrest stems not from street protests, but from corruption, politicized laws, twisted history, and state policies that neglect the people," the organization said.

What are the protests in Indonesia about?

A wave of protests reignited in Indonesia last week and turned violent after footage showed an elite paramilitary police van running over a 21-year-old delivery driver as security authorities tried to rein in student demonstrations.

The protests, which included students, workers and rights groups, were over a series of issues, including economic hardships and state-funded perks to parliamentarians.

Hundreds of protesters were arrested as police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds. 

Over 3,000 people have been detained in a nationwide crackdown on protests, according to Human Rights Watch. Ten people have been killed and over 1,000 were injured in incidents of rioting and looting, the group added.

Calls grow to investigate police violence in Indonesia

On Wednesday, a police commission fired an officer after finding him guilty of an ethics violation over his role in the killing of the delivery driver, Affan Kurniawan.

National police spokesperson Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko said the officer had acted "unprofessionally" during the protest.

Indonesian media reported that the officer was in the vehicle that hit Affan, but Trunoyudo gave no further information about the officer's involvement.

Ten student unions met with lawmakers on Wednesday and demanded an independent probe into police violence.

The deputy house speaker proposed a meeting with the government on Thursday.

News agency Reuters cited BEM SI leader Muzammil Ihsan as saying that there had been no follow-up on the offer.

Edited by: Sean Sinico