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Indonesian students clash with police on September 25, 2019 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Indonesian student groups have demonstrated for a second day against a proposed change in Indonesia's criminal law code which among other things would outlaw sex outside of marriage and another law which would weaken the Corruption Eradication Commission.
- Thousands of Indonesian students have clashed with police in protests against a new draft law that would change the country's criminal code.
- The new criminal code poses changes that would see couples that have sex outside of marriage facing up to one year in jail. Couples that live together without being married could be put in jail for six months.
- Students clashed with police beginning Monday. On Tuesday and Wednesday, police fired tear gas and water cannons at crowds to disperse them.
- Parliament was scheduled to vote on the new law on Tuesday, but the vote has since been delayed.
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Thousands of Indonesian students have clashed with police while protesting a controversial new draft law that would significantly change the country's penal code and, among other changes, would criminalize sex outside of marriage.
Protesters have gathered around the country since Monday against the proposed new criminal code which was finalized in parliament on September 15. Parliament was scheduled to vote on the new law on Tuesday, but the vote has since been delayed.
The country's Criminal Code was developed in 1946 and was based on Dutch colonial law. According to the Guardian, there are over 18 changes to the law that have sparked the controversy, but students are particularly concerned about the government trying to control their private lives.
The most controversial laws include banning sex outside of marriage and prohibiting unmarried couples from cohabitating.
Sex outside of marriage is punishable by up to one year in jail under the draft law. Couples who live together outside of marriage could also face up to six months in jail.
The bill also discusses sex education, contraception, and proposes a four-year prison sentence for abortions performed outside the law. Critics say the new changes would also make it a crime to be gay, and may limit human rights and restrict freedom of speech.
According to Reuters, students say they're also against changes to a law concerning the country's anti-corruption watchdog Corruption Eradication Commission, also known by its initials KPK. The words "RIP KPK" were scribbled by protesters on walls near the country's parliament, Reuters said.
Police fired tear gas and water cannons at students to break up rallies on Tuesday in Jakarta, with over 300 people injured.
265 students and 39 police officers were injured in clashes, Reuters said, citing Jakarta's police chief Gatot Eddy Pramono. He added that 94 people were arrested.
On Wednesday, police again shot multiple tear gas rounds at thousands of students, some of whom were throwing stones and setting fires in the capital. Confrontations between police and protesters also occurred in other cities, including Padang, Palu, Garut and Bogor, according to the Associated Press.
Scroll below to see some of the photos from Wednesday's clashes.