Dwi Bowo Raharjo – Scores of protesters from a number of different universities that are part of the All Indonesia Student Executive Council (BEM SI) Alliance held a symbolic action on Tuesday to oppose to the enactment of the new Criminal Code (KUHP) on December 6.
BEM SI Coordinator Yuza Agusta said that at today's action they brought a horse drawn buggy (delman) complete with a photograph of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo that was placed on the horse's head. Written on the passenger cartridge meanwhile was the word "Oligarchy".
"So this horse and buggy do indeed signify the actual character of the Jokowi leadership. The one driving [the administration] is not in fact him but the oligarchy that are behind him", said Agusta at the Horse Statue Monument in Central Jakarta on Tuesday December 20.
Agusta admitted there were indeed not as many protesters as previous demonstrations. He explained that this was because it was just a symbolic action. He also claimed that the action was joined by more than 100 people from 20 difference campuses.
"There will still be many movements in the future, we're in the process of gathering ammunition, and it's also the end of the year", he said.
Upon arriving at Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat near the Horse Statue at 3.20 pm, the demonstrators almost closed off part of the road. They did not bring a command vehicle but used several megaphones instead
In addition to the horse drawn buggy with Widodo's picture on it, they also brought a bier covered with white cloth with the writing "The Death of Democracy" on one side and "Jokowi is Authoritarian" on the other. They also brought yellow flags which are usually used as a sign of mourning.
[Translation by James Balowski. Abridged slightly due to repetition. The original title of the article was "Mahasiswa Gambarkan Pemerintahan Jokowi seperti Kuda Delman yang Bawa Oligarki Dibelakangnya".]
