New activist alliance says Yudhoyono has failed the people

Kompas – January 27, 2010
Indonesian People's Opposition Front (FOR Indonesia) action in Central Jakarta
Indonesian People's Opposition Front (FOR Indonesia) action in Central Jakarta

R.A. Khairun Nisa, Jakarta – The Indonesian People’s Opposition Forum (sic) (FOR Indonesia) believes that the first 100 days of the administration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono (SBY-Boediono) has been a failure. As an initial step, FOR Indonesia, which was established by 36 mass organisations, will hold simultaneous mass actions on January 28.

“The SBY-Boediono regime has failed and will undeniably bring suffering to the ordinary people if it remains in power,” said FOR Indonesia spokesperson Nining Elitos at a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday January 27.

The National Summit, which was organised to develop a five-year road map of economic development, will not benefit the people. “The national summit is simply a means to smooth the way for capital domination and is simultaneously a road to the intensification of the people’s suffering. This is the reason why the basic issues that are causing the people to suffer more and more, namely the domination of international capital, the foreign debt trap, free trade and capital liberalisation, are precisely what is being strengthened by this national summit”, said Nining.

Nining went on to say that FOR Indonesia is offering a solution to overcome the people’s dissatisfaction. “National industrialisation under the control of the people, genuine agricultural reform under the control of the people, the nationalisation of vital assets under the control of the people, gender equality for women, the direct participation of the people in all public decision making, and the protection of people’s basic rights,” she said.

At tomorrow’s action, they will also be calling on all Indonesians to participate in this fight. “All of this can only be undertaken by people’s power in the form of a people’s united government,” she concluded.

The action on Thursday will be centered on the State Palace with protesters setting off from their respective offices. Following this, at 12noon, they with gather at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle then march towards the State Palace.

FOR Indonesia is made up of a number of organisations including the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) and the Indonesian Migrant Workers Union (SBMI).

[Translated by James Balowski.]