Machendra Setyo AtmajaIntania Nur Kusuma, Jakarta – Symbols of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) have been burnt by demonstrators from the Indonesian People’s Anti-Imperialist Union (Perisai) who were demanding that the government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla have the courage to leave the organisation.

The Perisai action – that was held in front of the State Palace on Sunday December 18 – was interrupted for around 15 minutes by rain at 1.30pm. After the rain stopped the action continued and they even set fire to WTO symbols such as black cloth with the writing “WTO” and posters were initially used during the action.

Perisai’s public relations officer, Hersa Krisna, said that this time round the action was held at the State Palace because Yudhoyono and Kalla are lackeys of the US and the policies they have implemented represent the policies of the WTO that are anti-people.

Prior to Perisai’s arrival at the State Palace, farmers and workers held a similar action. In the end however, they disbanded in order to go the national parliament.

The two groups were also able to come together in front of the Department of Foreign Economic Relations on Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat. At the time the farmers and workers were giving speeches demanding an end to the construction of an airport in Tanakawu on Lombok Island. The farmers and workers believe that the appropriation of residents’ land for the airport violates human rights because it was done though intimidation, as the land there is extremely fertile. (san)

[Translated by James Balowski.]