Thousands of Indonesians took to the streets on Thursday. They’re demonstrating against President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. It marks his 100th day in office since being re-elected for a second term.
The anti-government demonstrations took place in Jakarta and other major cities, and they were mostly peaceful.
Protesters are calling on the government to take firm action against corruption and to increase the minimum pay for workers.
[Andre, Protestor]:
“We have seen a big zero during the first 100 days of Yudhoyono.”
In the city of Makassar, police used teargas to disperse hundreds of people at a rally. Another group of protesters burned tires.
The first three months of President Yudhoyono's second five-year term have highlighted his weaknesses. Some of the cabinet seats were given to coalition partners who don’t fully support his policies. And power struggles continue between the country's reformers, who are trying to get rid of corruption, and the political old guard who stand to lose out.
A recent survey put public satisfaction with President Yudhoyono at 70 percent. It’s still high compared to many leaders in the West, but it’s a big drop from where it was last July, at 85 percent.
