Protesters(no centralised authority) Government Protesters (no centralised leadership) Government Joko WidodoPresident of Indonesia Ma'ruf AminVice President of Indonesia Jusuf KallaFormer Vice President of Indonesia Muhammad PrasetyoAttorney General Mahfud MDCoordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs WirantoFormer Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Tito KarnavianMinister of Interior Tjahjo KumoloFormer Minister of Interior Yasonna LaolyMinister of Justice Prabowo SubiantoMinister of Defence Ryamizard RyacuduFormer Minister of Defence A series of mass protests led by students took place at major cities in Indonesia from 23 September 2019, to rally against new legislation that reduces the authority of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), as well as several bills including a new criminal code that penalises extramarital sex and defamation against the president.

The Revisions to Law no.30/2002 on Corruption Eradication Commission (RUU KPK) was ratified by the members of the People's Representative Council (DPR) who serve 2014–2019 term on 17 September 2019.

On 11 September 2019, President Joko Widodo issued a presidential letter to the Ministry of Law and Human Rights to discuss the revision along with the DPR.

Corruption is a significant political issue in Indonesia, and KPK, established in 2002, was a part of the reform demands that followed the overthrow of the authoritarian Suharto regime.

The demands consist of the following:[22][12] While small-scale demonstrations were already held sporadically, mass protests took place on 23 and 24 September, the last two days before the term end of the incumbent parliament members.

The protest spread nationwide, including Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Malang, Palembang, Medan, Padang, Semarang, Surakarta, Lampung, Aceh, Palu, Bogor, Denpasar, Makassar, Balikpapan, Samarinda, Purwokerto, Tasikmalaya, Kediri, Tanjungpinang, Cirebon, Jombang, and others.

[29] Large numbers of farmers also joined the event from the afternoon to protest against the Land Bill, marching down from the Merdeka Palace.

This prompted protesters to throw rocks and bottles into the building, and eventually, attempt to intrude into the site by breaking the fence.

[13] Rallies were held peacefully in other cities, including Palembang, Semarang, Surakarta, Medan, Lampung, Aceh, and Makassar.

[26] Vocational school students from various parts of the Jakarta metropolitan area continued the rioting in front of the parliament building.

The police reported that some of the protesters do not recognise the content of the bill, they admitted that they was paid and persuaded by KPK officials who affiliated with Taliban and some elites.

[36] In Surabaya, the head of provincial legislative council Kusnadi reached out to protesters, explained that he has no authority to overturn the controversial bills and he also disagreed personally to the decisions made by the national parliament.

[27] In Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, two students died after a violent clash between the protesters and police in front of the provincial legislative council (DPRD) building.

[37] A board chairman of the Muhammadiyah Student League (IMM), to which the victims belong, demanded the removal of the Southeast Sulawesi police chief from its position.

The Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly also assured that the President would not issue a presidential decree to repeal the revision.

Laoly criticised the demonstration and urged not to normalise the forceful amendment of the legislation, citing the risk of legitimising governmental institutions.

[51] The Minister of Research, Technology and Higher Education Mohamad Nasir stated that the President warned university lecturers against student mobilisations.

[52] Oce Madril, the head of an anti-corruption study centre in Gajah Mada University, criticised the President's response, stating that he had failed to respond to the public resentment toward RUU KPK.

However, many international news outlets focused only on the contentious Criminal Code (RKUHP) bill, in which one of its articles criminalises premarital sex.

This includes the BBC, Deutsche Welle, The Japan Times, Al Jazeera, Reuters, The Sydney Morning Herald, and CNN.