Agung Sedayu, Jakarta – Protest actions and parades across Central and South Jakarta will colour the capital today, Monday April 21. Based on information from the Metro Jaya regional police Traffic Management Centre (TMC), the actions take place between 9am and 4pm.
A parade and peaceful action to commemorate World Cancer Day and Kartini Day is expected to cause traffic disruption on a number of stretches of road. “It’s likely that several stretches of road will be obstructed, because although it’s a peaceful action they will hold a parade through a number of streets,” said TMC staff member Briptu Hariadi.
The parade will start at the Dharmais Hospital and pass through Jl. Gerbang Pemuda, Jl. Asia Afrika, Jl. Thamrin, the National Monument, Banteng Square, the Farmers Monument, Jl. Rasuna Said, Casablanca, Mega Kuningan, the Semanggi Plaza, Jl. Gatot Subroto and end at the Mulia Building. The action will start 12noon and finish at 4pm.
Other protest actions meanwhile will take place at seven points spread across Central and South Jakarta. In Central Jakarta there will be demonstrations at the House of Representatives building, the Department of Health, the Foreign Affairs Department, the Jakarta City Hall and the National Elections Commission.
In South Jakarta meanwhile, demonstrations will take place at the Department of Justice and Human Rights and the Corruption Eradication Commission on Jl. Rasuna Said.
In addition to this, a peaceful action handing out flowers to members of the public to commemorate Kartini Day will be held at the Hotel Indonesia roundabout at 1pm.
Notes:
Kartini was an Indonesian regent’s daughter during the Dutch colonial period who, through her letters home, outlined her dreams of a better life for women. She died aged 25 a few days after giving birth to her first child. A variety of myths have made the original Kartini a nationalist hero and feminist symbol. Hari Kartini (Kartini Day) is a public holiday dedicated to the memory of the turn-of-the-century hero.
[Translated by James Balowski.]
