Indonesia anti-government protests against corruption

[frigidmagi]

BBC

Thousands of Indonesian demonstrators have taken to the streets in anti-government protests.

Protesters say President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has not delivered on his promise to eradicate corruption during the first 100 days of his second term.

Correspondents say Mr Yudhoyono still has strong support, but his popularity has fallen slightly in recent polls.

The protesters' main complaint centres on the arrest of two officials from the anti-corruption commission.

Many are also angry at the government's bail-out of one particular bank, Bank Century, during the financial crisis.

Difficult times

President Yudhoyono was voted in with an overwhelming majority last year, but 100 days into his second term, he is now facing one of his most difficult times in office.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (file image)
Mr Yudhoyono is still popular, but faces difficult challenges

In several cities across the country, people have come out to mark the anniversary with street protests. Numbers range from 1,000 to 5,000 people, according to the BBC correspondent in Jakarta, Karishma Vaswani.

Two corruption scandals have dogged Mr Yudhoyono's administration in recent months.

First there was the anti-corruption commission saga, which began in November and saw two officials of the powerful agency detained by the police.

Many Indonesians saw the arrests as an attempt to unfairly target one of the few institutions people think of as credible.

The other scandal involves Bank Century, a small Indonesian lender that was bailed out by the Indonesian central bank at the height of the financial crisis last year.

Allegations of misconduct have been levelled at the two people in charge of handling the bail-out - Indonesia's Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Vice-President Boediono, two key members of President Yudhoyono's new cabinet.

A parliamentary investigation is under way to determine whether the two officials misused their powers to save Bank Century.

After the bail-out many of the bank's wealthy clients allegedly donated money to the president's election campaign.

You thought you could take out corruption in a 100 days? Seriously dude?