Violence hits Jakarta on president's anniversary
![Police block anti-government demonstrators outside the presidential palace in Jakarta on October 20, 2010. [AFP]](http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201010/r659249_4705620.jpg "Police block anti-government demonstrators outside the presidential palace in Jakarta on October 20, 2010. [AFP]")
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Police block anti-government demonstrators outside the presidential palace in Jakarta on October 20, 2010. [AFP]
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Hundreds of anti-government protesters in Indonesia have clashed with police outside the presidential palace in the capital, Jakarta.
Protesters hurled stones and sticks while police fired tear gas at demonstrators.
Fadjroel Rachman, a political analyst and a member of the People's Coalition Against Corruption, participated in the protests.
He told Radio Australia police provoked the protestors into becoming violent.
"When I came to the President's palace in Jakarta, our standing, our position, our political situation is against SBY," he said.
"We called it a peace demonstration, no violence . . . the police always provoke the demonstration."
It is the first anniversary of the swearing in of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and protesters claim he has failed in his promise to eradicate corruption.
His popularity rankings have slumped despite strong economic growth, amid corruption and incompetence across all levels of the state.
Anti-government protests have also taken place in the cities of Bandung, Surabaya, Palu and Bogor.
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