Kid: We need a real leader!

Man: Naturally all our leaders are... hardened (criminal) leaders!

Bandung – The commander of the Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad, Green Berets) Lieutenant General Gatot Nurmantyo has called on all Indonesians to be on guard against a proxy war. This war, which uses third parties in order to defeat its enemies, is largely directed at food, water and energy sources.

Thousand of workers in the Central Java city of Solo took to the streets this morning to commemorate International Labour Day on Thursday May 1.

Sunariyah, Jakarta – Workers apparently are still traumatised by the administration of former President Megawati Sukarnoputri. Although more than 10 years have passed, they still recall several of Megawati’s policies that brought suffering to workers. One of these was the policy on outsourcing that is still in force to this day.

Arif Wicaksono, Jakarta – Labour organisations are proposing the establishment of an alternative political party that would take up pro-people programs for the Indonesian nation. Up until now, there has been no political party that has been capable of providing welfare for the ordinary Indonesian people.

Tangerang – Thousands of workers in Tangerang, Banten province celebrated May Day by bringing a 3-metre effigy of an octopus to the State Palace in Central Jakarta. They also brought a 1.5 metre wide soccer trophy.

Raka F Pujangga, Semarang – The Indonesian Trade Union Action Committee (Kasbi) and the Semarang branch of the Indonesian Metal Trade Workers Federation (FSPMI) held a parade in the Central Java provincial capital of Semarang which was joined by around 3,000 people on Thursday May 1.

Surya Mujib Anwar, Surabaya – Demonstrators from a number of different groups in East Java have begun arriving at the grounds of Governor Suryo in front of the State Grahadi building in the provincial capital of Surabaya on Thursday May 1.

Oris Riswan, Bandung – There was a different aspect to a workers protest action at the governor’s office in the West Java provincial capital of Bandung on Thursday May 1. Amongst the hundreds of protesting workers, there was a group of students calling themselves the Papua Student Alliance (AMP).

Risanti, Bandung – Commemorating International Labour Day on May 1, hundreds of workers from the All Indonesian Workers Union-Metal and Electronic Machinery Trade Union Federation (SPSI-FSP LEM) and the Bandung branch of the SPSI held a demonstration on the grounds of the West Java-Banten state electricity company (PLN).

Aji Saktiyanto, Bandar Lampung – Workers holding a demonstration to commemorate International Labour Day at the Bandar Lampung Adipura Monument in the provincial capital of Lampung on May 1 demanded that their wages not be deducted as dues to pay for social security by the Social Security Management Agency (BPJS).

Desy Afrianti, Stella Maris – In a speech in front of the State Palace on Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara in Central Jakarta, Sri, the general secretary of the Association of Independent Trade Unions (GSBI) asserted that workers would not support Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo alias Jokowi as the next president of the Republic of Indonesia.

Jakarta – The Joint Labour Secretariat (Sekber Buruh) and the Political Alternative Committee (KPA) are reiterating the importance of workers forming an alternative political party outside of the existing parties. According to Sekber Buruh, any administration that comes out of 2014 elections will not impact on the lives of workers.

M Ardiansyah, Palembang – South Sumatran journalists held an action to commemorate May Day in Palembang city at the Fountain traffic circle on Thursday May 1.

Khairul Ikhwan, Medan – A demonstration commemorating Labour Day in the North Sumatra provincial capital of Medan was joined by around 4,000 workers. The action was centred at the Majestik traffic circle because government offices were closed for the May Day public holiday.

Edzan Raharjo, Yogyakarta – Thousands of workers in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta took to the streets to commemorate Labour Day on Thursday May 1. The actions, which were held by several different labour organisations, were centred on the Jl.

Muhammad Nur Abdurrahman, Jakarta – The commemoration of May Day in the Makassar Industrial Area (Kima) in South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar descended into chaos on Thursday May 1.

Agus Setyadi, Banda Aceh – A hundred or so workers in the Acehnese provincial capital of Banda Aceh held prayers on a main street for the close of demonstrations commemorating Labour Day in Aceh. The workers, who came from Acehnese trade unions, demanded welfare improvements and rejected low wages.

Idham Khalid, Jakarta – Workers from the National Trade Union Confederation (KSN) held a theatrical action at the House of Representatives (DPR) building in Senayan, Jakarta, on Thursday May 1. The action was held in the context of the fight for workers’ rights who they believe have yet to enjoy a decent life.

Atmi Pertiwi, Jakarta – Labour demonstrations have not just taken place in the main streets of the capital.