Yogyakarta – A demonstration by Jogja Calling (Jogja Memanggil) in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta Tuesday August 27 held a theatrical action in which they tried President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in front of the Yogyakarta State Palace or the Agung Building.
An effigy wearing a mask with a picture of Widodo's face and wrapped in a white cloth that read "Tyranny Dies Here" was placed upright in front of the Agung Building alongside a replica guillotine and gallows.
Meanwhile hundreds of participants at the action surrounded Widodo's "court platform" while speakers on the command vehicle took turns in conveying Widodo's "sins" over the two terms that he has been in office.
This continued until finally the time came for Widodo's trial when an executioner also arrived and tied a rope around the next of the Widodo effigy.
"Hang Jokowi, hang Jokowi!", shouted the protesters. The executioner continued to pull on the rope until the head on the Widodo effigy came off.
"One tyranny has died here, but in October (2024) there will be a new tyranny that replaces Jokowi, we will behead the new tyranny on this guillotine", said the executioner.
A second later, another effigy arrived wearing a mask with a picture of president elect Prabowo Subianto. He was nosily led to replica guillotine and his head placed in the pillory.
"Try him, try him, try him!", shouted the crowd.
The effigy of Prabowo finally drooped helplessly when the guillotine blade fell on its neck.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the action in front of the Agung Building was still ongoing. A number of police officer could be seen on guard at the east gate of the Presidential Palace.
A number of large banners were also installed around the Agung Building. One of them written in English read, "The Genocide Made in Indonesian Government".
Boycott the DPR, bring down Jokowi
The Jogja Calling action, which was joined by thousands of people in Yogyakarta, was held as a form of concern over the recent emergency state of Indonesian democracy.
Earlier, a street action was held by the Jogja Calling alliance which was initiated by a group of activists from the Cik Di Tiro Forum, the Democracy Challenge Network (Jagad) and the Yogyakarta Student Executive Council (BEM) alliance.
The majority of the protesters who were students held a long-march after gathering in the Abu Bakar Ali parking area (ABA) at around 11.30 am.
The long-march passed through the Malioboro shopping district in the centre of the city towards the zero-kilometre point in front of the central post office. The demonstrators brought a variety of banners, one of which had the word "Crush!!!" (Ganyang) in large letters on it.
This banner had a picture of character resembling Widodo who was being dragged out of the Palace. There were other messages on the banner such as "Downstreaming disguised as a solution", Stop criminalising farmers" and "The people's sovereignty".
On the way they stopped at the Yogyakarta Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) building where several protesters installed chains and a padlock on the main gate of the people's representatives offices.
At the same time the crowd shouted cheers and sang the children's song "If you're happy and you know it".
"Jokowi is old, ugly". "Asshole", shouted thew crowd in response.
"Boycott the DPR, bring down Jokowi", shouted other demonstrators.
Action coordinator Reformatik said that the protest was joined by various elements of society ranging from students to activists, cultural figures, artists, workers and street vendors.
He said that the action was not only to oversee short-term targets such as ensuring that the House of Representatives (DPR) follow the Constitutional Court's ruling on the requirements for nominations in the election of regional heads (Pilkada), but also other issues that have previously emerged such as resistance to the weakening of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the Omnibus Law on Job Creation (Cipta Karja).
The DPR's decision to cancel the ratification of the Draft Law on Regional Elections (RUU Pilkada), he said, does not mean that the people's struggle to uphold the Constitution and safeguard democracy has succeeded.
The masses believe that they will still face major challenges under the next administration of Prabowo Subianto after Widodo steps down in October.
"The demands during the action are a reminder that the struggle is still long, we must ensure that opposition to the oligarchic regime and political dynasties continues and continue to convey the message of building a people's opposition that does not stop just with the Jokowi regime because the potential for oppression is still quite big in the future", he said.
Through an official statement, the groups demanded five things. First, rejecting the populist authoritarianism practiced by Widodo and his cronies. Second, demanding that the Regional Elections Law and the Political Parties Law be immediately revised.
Third, resisting all attempts to destroy or weaken the Constitution. Fourth, rejecting the oligarchy and political dynasties. Finally, calling on the people of Yogyakarta to build a people's opposition.
[Slightly abridged translation by James Balowski based on two articles by CNN Indonesia on August 27. The original title of the lead article was "Aksi Jogja Memanggil, Massa Bawa Boneka Jokowi".]
