Soetana Monang Hasibuan, Medan – An estimated thousand or more protesters from the Alliance of Workers and Employees (ABP) held a May Day action in the North Sumatra city of Medan on Friday May 1.

During the action they occupied the road in front of the Medan Regional House of Representatives, and then set off for the North Sumatra governor’s office to join up with other worker demonstrators.

According to Tempo’s observations, the action proceeded under a tight escort by Medan municipal police. In addition to putting their officiers on alert, police also erected a steel fence in front governor’s office and mobilised two water cannons and a Barracuda tactical vehicle.

During the action in front of the governor’s office, the protesters demanded that North Sumatra Governor Syamsul Arifin appear to listen to their demands.

[Translated by James Balowski.]