Six die, protests swell as Indonesia plunges into post-election unrest

JAKARTA (Reuters): Demonstrations over the outcome of last month’s Presidential Election gripped the heart of Indonesia’s capital yesterday after an overnight face-off between Police and protesters in which Jakarta’s Governor said six people were killed.

The riots followed an announcement on Tuesday by the General Election Commission (KPU) confirming that President Joko Widodo had beaten his challenger, former General Prabowo Subianto, in the 17 April poll.

Crowds swelled in central Jakarta yesterday and Police said they expected more protesters to join them before nightfall. Some of those arriving carried wooden poles and some had smeared toothpaste around their eyes, a practice commonly carried out to eliminate the effects of tear gas.

Protests that began calmly in the sprawling textile market neighbourhood of Tanah Abang on Tuesday turned violent after nightfall, with Police firing tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan told TVOne that by the morning six people had been killed and 200 wounded.

Television footage showed smoke billowing from behind dozens of protesters in the streets of Tanah Abang yesterday, with some throwing firecrackers and tearing down public fences.