Thousands protest in Indonesia

THOUSANDS of Indonesians rallied across the country yesterday as the military was deployed in the capital after six people were killed in nationwide protests over lavish perks for lawmakers that escalated into violent anger against the police.

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At least 300 protesters gathered outside the nation’s parliament in Jakarta yesterday as dozens of soldiers watched. Thousands more rallied in Palembang on Sumatra island and hundreds gathered in Banjarmasin on Borneo island and Yogyakarta on the main island of Java, according to journalists around the country.

“Our main goal is to reform the parliament. We hope the parliament will come out and meet us. We want to talk to them directly, they are our representatives,” prostester and university student Nafta Keisya Kemalia, 20, said.

“Do they want to wait until we have a martial law?”

The deadly protests, which began last week over MP housing allowances nearly 10 times the minimum wage in Jakarta, have forced President Prabowo Subianto and parliament leaders to make a U-turn over the measures.