Thousands of troops secure Indonesia trial as tensions rise over wiretap scandal
· World · The Hindu, Al Jazeera
Thousands of police and military personnel were deployed to secure the East Jakarta District Court on Thursday for the defamation trial of former President Joko Widodo, as tensions remained high over the alleged wiretapping scandal. Three senior generals, including former national police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo, were detained in connection with intercepting President Prabowo Subianto's telephone conversations, though Widodo has not been implicated. Former President Widodo arrived at the court to testify, marking the latest escalation in a case involving allegations that Cabinet officials, politicians, journalists, and business executives were subjected to unauthorized surveillance. The trial occurs amid a growing political rift between Widodo and his former ally Prabowo, who recently chose Widodo's son as his running mate.
Why it matters
The heavy security presence underscores the political volatility in Indonesia, where a high-profile trial involving a former president and current administration officials threatens to deepen the rift between political rivals and destabilize the capital.
Read the original report — The Hindu
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