Online crackdown haunts Indonesia protests

University students hold a poster at a rally on Sept 4 outside the Senayan legislative complex in Jakarta that read #WargaJagaWarga (Citizens protect citizens) and a picture depicting Affan Kurniawan, a 21-year-old motorcycle ride-hailing driver who was killed after being run over by a police armored vehicle during protests over lawmakers' lavish pay and allowances on Aug 28. - Photo: Reuters

JAKARTA: Arrests of activists and social media users for posting content on social media that the police allege incited a string of protests and riots in Jakarta and other regions has raised concerns of criminalisation of the public’s freedom of expression.

Over the week, the police have arrested more than 40 people as part of their effort to seek “provocateurs” behind the riots in Jakarta last week, which broke out amid public protests against lawmakers’ lavish perks.