Dikhy Sasra, Jakarta – The new bylaw on public order continues to draw protests from various groups, including from student-intellectual circles.

“Vagrants and beggars are also human beings. Traders are also human beings”, said one of the speakers in front of the City Hall on Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan in Central Jakarta on Wednesday September 19.

The group of students calling themselves the Jakarta Students Study Circle (LSMJ) brought a white poster measuring 3x4 meters. On a length of cloth were written criticisms against the government. “Create a bureaucracy that is morally healthy and responsible”.

The 30 or so demonstrators, wearing their respective university jackets arrived at the demonstration from the nearby Proclamation Monument at around 2.30pm. They also plan to demonstrate at the Jakarta Regional House of Representatives (DPRD), the Department of Home Affairs and the Hotel Indonesia roundabout.

As of 3pm the action was still continue with students demanding that the Jakarta provincial government and the DPRD have the courage to create economic development in Jakarta that sides with the economically weak, improve real public services for the people and for an end to privatisation.

One of the examples of the government’s failure to side with the people’s economy is the mushrooming of foreign hyper-markets. The allocation of Toyota Altis cars for DPRD members has also injured the little people’s sense of justice. (gah/sss)

[Translated by James Balowski.]