Indonesian Court Acquits Activists in Riot Case

0:00This is your global news update for March 6th. An Indonesian court acquitted a prominent activist in three others on Friday, March 6, clearing them of charges tied to last year's worst riots. In over 20 years, the group faced accusations of inciting protests, spreading fake news and hate speech on social media, and even exploiting minors, but the judge ruled. Them not guilty on all counts. The unrest started in August with nationwide student and civilian protests against the government's spending plans, like boosting lawmaker incentives. Things turned violent in Jakarta after police killed a motorcycle taxi driver, leading to clashes that lasted into September and left 10 people dead. Nearly 7,000 protesters had been arrested so far, with 500 already sentenced and 125 still behind bars. According to human rights monitors, Del Pedro Marjane, from a legal aid group and seen as a protest leader, was freed after six months in detention. His organizations hailed the verdicts as a rare win for free speech amid concerns over

1:04shrinking civil liberties. One group called it an oasis in Indonesia's Democratic backslide, while others urged the government to protect expression rights. These events marked an early challenge for President Prabowo Subeyanto, who won in a landslide in 2024. Analysts compare the chaos to the 1998 student uprising that ended decades of authoritarian rule under Suharto. A message from our sponsor supports today's story. Relax deeper, reset faster, comfort you can hear.