Ari Saputra, Jakarta – Hundreds of workers from various labour organisations held a protest action at the front gates of the House of Representatives (DPR) building in Jakarta on October 20.

The demonstrators were opposing the inauguration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) and Vice President Boediono. “Reject SBY-Boediono!”, shouted one of the speakers during the action on Tuesday.

The 500 or so demonstrators from the Indonesian Trade Union Congress Alliance (KASBI) walked on foot from the Republic of Indonesia TV station to the DPR. In order to anticipate anything “undesirable” occurring, hundreds of police officers kept guard over the march.

Appearing cohesive, they wore bright red shirts and headbands. Several also carried flags identifying their organisations.

At around 2.30pm the demonstrators disbursed peacefully and the earlier traffic jam in front of the DPR on Jl. Gatot Subroto began to flow soothingly again. “We will continue to reject the SBY-Boediono leadership who are capitalist lackeys. We are the opposition”, asserted one of the demonstrators from KASBI.

The hundreds of police guarding the DPR drew a sigh of relief and disbanded. A vehicle carrying razor wire was withdrawn and three water cannons were also secured.

[Slightly abridged translation by James Balowski compiled from two reports in Detik.com.]