Riot Breaks Out in West Jakarta as Police Ban Protest Against Omnibus Law

Jakarta. A riot has broken out in Jalan Pejompongan Raya, Palmerah, West Jakarta, on Wednesday, following a series of nationwide protests against the House of Representatives' decision to pass the Job Creation Law on Monday. 

Angry mob damaged a police detention car after carrying out a cat-and-mouse action with the police. Police personnel fired tear gas while the mob showering them with stones. The riot caused traffic along Jalan Pejompongan Raya to stop.

The riot began at noon after the police detained 15 peoples from a group of protesters who claimed they wanted to demonstrate in front of the national legislative building in Senayan, Central Jakarta. The protesters threw rocks at the Pejompongan polices station from their hiding positions behind a railroad tracks nearby.  

Earlier, Jakarta police have announced that they would not issue any demonstration permit, arguing such an event during the Covid-19 pandemic could accelerate the disease' spread.