Nurul Hidayati, Jakarta – Traffic in the Senayan area of Central Jakarta is guaranteed to be congested today, Tuesday April 8. The reason being that between 2-3 thousand employees from the state-owned port management company Pelindo from the Indonesian Port and Dredging Trade Union (SPPI) will be demonstrating at the House of Representatives (DPR) building at 9am.
The protesters will be taking to the streets to oppose revisions to the shipping law that the DPR is planning to ratify. According to the Metro Jaya regional police Traffic Management Centre (TMC), at 7.15am thousands of employees were already reported to be gathering at PT Pelindo II in the Tanjung Priok area of North Jakarta.
The second action is being organised by the Pro-Democracy Activist Network (ProDEM) at two locations, the Hotel Indonesia roundabout and the Indofood Tower at Sudirman Plaza. The action, which will begin at around 11am, will be led by Andriyanto and involve more than 200 people. The protesters will be demanding a full investigation into the Bank Indonesia Liquidity Support Scheme (BLBI) corruption case involving Liem Sioe Liong and Anthoni Salim and for the assets of BLBI corruptors to be seized for the benefit of the people.
The next action, which is being held by the Peoples Movement for the Trial of Bank Indonesia Liquidity Support Scheme Corrupters (GERAK BLBI), will also take place at the Hotel Indonesia roundabout followed by a protest at the Indocement Building on Jl. Jend. Sudirman in South Jakarta. The action, which will begin at around 11am, will be articulating the same demands as ProDEM. The demonstration will be led by Anis Fauzan and around 150 people are expected to take part.
At around 9am, some 250 people from the People’s Coalition for Food Sovereignty (KRKP), the Agrarian Reform Movement Alliance (AGRA), the Association of Independent Trade Unions (GSBI) and the National Student Front (FMN) will hold a protest action opposing the distribution of genetically engineered rice in Asia.
Then at around 10.30am, the Democrat Youth Front Guard (GBMD) will hold a protest in front of the Corruption Eradication Commission building on Jl. HR Rasuna Said in South Jakarta. The action, which will be led by Norbeth W. Tun, is expected to attract more than 100 people who will be demanding an investigation into a suspected regional budget corruption case in South Sumatra involving the 2003-2005 Banyuasin Regent Ir. Aminudin Inoet.
“Public road users planning to pass by the DPR when protest actions are taking place are being asked to be careful and seek alternative routes in order to avoid traffic jams that are expected to take place”, wrote the TMC on its website. (nrl/ary)
[Translated by James Balowski.]
