Arif Shodiq Pujiharto, Jakarta – Around 50 people from the group Youth Community Mistrusts the Elections (Kaum Muda Tidak Percaya Pemilu) held a demonstration at the offices of the National Elections Commission (KPU) in Jakarta on Wednesday January 14 demanding that the KPU have the courage to bring rotten politicians to court.

The action was joined by activists from the Muslim Students Association Reform (HMI-MPO), the Democratic Students Network (Jaringan Mahasiswa Demokratik) and the Association of Evicted People (Persatuan Rakyat Tergusur). They held a long-march from the Hotel Indonesia roundabout directly to the KPU offices where they held speeches.

“We do not believe the 2004 elections are a solution for the people to [overcome] the [economic and political] crisis. There are no political parties which care about the ordinary people. We ask that the KPU have the courage to bring the rotten politicians and political parties to court”, said one of the speakers.

As is common in demonstrations, shouting “participants in an anti-poor people’s election” they carried flags and posters with the writing “The 2004 Elections are an Arena to Deceive the People” and “Elections = Consolidation of the Betrayal of the People”. (aan)

[Translated by James Balowski.]