Jakarta. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has called for the immediate release of protesters detained during the "Indonesia Emergency Alert" demonstrations that broke out last Thursday.

"For those demonstrators who are still in custody, I hope they can be released soon," Jokowi said in a video statement posted on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube channel on Tuesday.

The protests were sparked by opposition to the House of Representatives' (DPR) revision of Law No. 10/2016 on Regional Elections. The movement brought together a broad coalition of students, celebrities, and 1998 reform activists.

The demonstrations, which involved vandalism and acts of violence, led to widespread arrests across Central and West Jakarta. The Jakarta Metro Police reported that 301 people were detained during the protests at the House of Representatives. While some detainees have been released, investigations are still ongoing for others.

Jokowi underscored the importance of peaceful protest as a cornerstone of democracy.

"Indonesia is a democratic nation. Expressing opinions and aspirations is a vital part of democracy, and I fully respect that. However, I urge that these expressions be made in an orderly and peaceful manner, so as not to cause harm or disrupt the lives of others," Jokowi said.

The Constitutional Court recently lowered the electoral threshold, allowing more candidates to participate in the 2024 regional election. However, the DPR, excluding PDI-P, decided that this change would only apply to non-parliamentary parties, limiting candidate options for the upcoming November election.

Furthermore, the DPR's decision to set a minimum age of 30 for regional election candidates has drawn criticism, particularly as it could open the door for President Jokowi's son, Kaesang Pangarep, to run. Critics argue that the Jokowi family is consolidating power, pointing to the recent election of Jokowi's eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, as vice president.

The DPR ultimately abandoned the plan to revise the election law after facing nationwide protests.

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