In Jakarta, security forces used water cannons against protesters.

Amid mass protests in Jakarta, security forces used water cannon against protesters outside the country’s parliament, and police erected barricades after demonstrators tore down parliament gates, Indonesian media reported. 

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It was previously reported that mass protests are taking place in Indonesia following amendments made by the country’s parliament to the law on regional elections; demonstrators across the country are taking to the streets, calling for a review of the decision.

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“Security forces fired water cannons at (protesters) outside the House of Representatives in Jakarta on Thursday as protesters demanded lawmakers abandon their plan to controversially overhaul the election law,” Indonesian media reported.

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Police also set up barricades after protesters brought down the rear gates of parliament.

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Moreover, tear gas was also used against the protesters.

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The day before, the country’s parliament made two important decisions regarding the process of nominating candidates for regional elections, which caused a public outcry. First, the electoral threshold was lowered to 6.5–10% of the valid votes in parliament, allowing individual parties to nominate candidates without forming a coalition.