Indonesia: Hundreds arrested after legal-reforms protests

More than 500 people were arrested after clashes in Indonesia's capital amid nationwide protests against a raft of divisive reforms including banning pre-marital sex and weakening anti-graft ncy authorities said on Tuesday.

Arrests amid nationwide protests

arrests came after a night of pitched street battles between riot police and stone-throwing protesters -- many high school and university students -- in Jakarta's sprawling downtown core. Security forces geared up for more unrest Tuesday as some 575 lawmakers were sworn in at country's heavily barriced parliament building.

Since last week, at least two students have died and hundreds more have been injured as a wave of unrest swept across Souast Asian archipelago, just weeks before President Joko Widodo kicks off ar term as he of world's third-biggest democracy.

Re:  Indonesian Police Fire Water Canns, Tear Gas To Disperse Protesters

protests are among biggest student rallies since mass street demonstrations in 1998 toppled Suharto dictatorship.

"So far we have detained 519 rioters from yesterday's demonstration," Jakarta police spokesman Argo Yuwo told reporters Tuesday. "We're questioning m to determine wher or t y are students," he ded.

government has sought to portray protests as being hijacked by agitators aiming to disrupt government -- and suggested y were similar to dely post-election riots that paralyzed Jakarta in May.

National police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo was quoted by local media as saying that police h detained 649 demonstrators from Monday's protests. Several dozen protesters were injured Monday at rallies in or parts of country, authorities said.

Re: Komodo: Indonesian 'Dragon Island' To Remain Open, $1000 To Enter

A proposed bill with dozens of legal changes

demonstrations have been fuelled by a proposed bill that includes dozens of legal changes -- from criminalizing pre-marital sex and restricting contraceptive sales, to making it illegal to insult president and toughening Muslim-majority country's blasphemy law.

Pass of reforms has w been delayed, and Widodo has said he would also consider revising a separate bill that critics fear would dilute powers of Indonesia's corruption-fighting ncy. Some 13 police officers have been questioned and detained over deaths of two students in riots on Sulawesi island last week. Police have previously denied responsibility.

Students have issued a wide-ranging list of demands including scrapping some criminal-code changes, withdrawing troops from Indonesia's restive Papua region, and halting forest fires in Sumatra and Borneo that unleashed toxic haze across Souast Asia.

Re: Death Toll In Indonesia Earthquake Rises To 30, Several Injured

Updating Indonesia's criminal code -- which dates back to Dutch colonial era -- has been debated for deces, but re was a renewed push this year backed by conservative Islamic groups.

controversial changes could affect millions of Indonesians, including gay and heterosexual couples who might face jail for having sex outside wedlock or having an affair.

Re: Indonesian Police Arrests 9 Suspects Accused Of Plotting A Bomb Attack