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Indonesia Protesters Fear Rollback of Rights, Reforms

William Gallo

   JAKARTA - Indonesia is seeing its largest protests in two decades, amid
   a wave of public anger at a proposed overhaul of the country's criminal
   code and a controversial move to weaken an anti-corruption body.

   Tens of thousands have protested this month nationwide, including in
   the capital, Jakarta, where police fired tear gas and water cannons to
   disperse student protesters outside the parliament building Tuesday.

   Many are upset at a proposal that would outlaw or strengthen existing
   restrictions on abortion, sex outside marriage, blasphemy, and
   insulting the president or other symbols of government.

   Others are angry at the passage of recent legislation that threatens to
   diminish the independence of, and strips key powers from the country's
   respected Corruption Eradication Commission.

   Separately, at least 30 people were killed this week during an outbreak
   of anti-government protests in the eastern region of Papua, where there
   has long been a low-level insurgency.

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