Siswanto, Jakarta – Around 100 residents from Cengkareng in West Jakarta held a demonstration in front of the State Palace on Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara on Friday July 13. They called on the government to issue a policy to provide subsidies for milk and sembako (nine basic food items including rice and other staple commodities).

“Actually it is not only now that it’s difficult to buy milk. It has been difficult for some time”, said Safarinah (50), a resident from the East Cengkareng administrative district who took part in the demonstration.

According to Safarinah, in general residents residing in the Cengkareng area do not have a source of permanent employment. In addition to this their incomes are below the minimum wage and the amount is unstable. “We wash cloths, on average we get 200,000 rupiah per month”, said Safarinah who came wearing rubber sandals.

Most of the people taking part in the demonstration were women, some of which brought their children. According to another demonstrator, Juliawati, most of them work as scavengers or wash clothing. “We are demonstrating at the Palace because our president doesn’t understand”, said Juliawati while expressing her amazement at the opulence of the State Palace building.

The protesters also brought posters made from cardboard reading “Implement milk and sembako subsidies now” and “Expensive milk malnourished infants”. (ahm)

[Translated by James Balowski.]