Ayu Fritriana, Jakarta – During a break in the labour demonstrations in Jakarta, a rat joined the protest action. Of course it wasn’t a real rat.

The giant effigy of a rat was brought by the Indonesian People’s Opposition Front (FOR Indonesia) to commemorate May Day at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta on Saturday May 1.

The rat, which symbolised a government that is dirty and has no concern for the fate of workers, will be taken to the nearby State Palace.

The protesters demanded that President Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono resign. “There will be no prosperity for the Indonesian working class as long as the SBY-Boediono neoliberal regime is still in power”, said FOR Indonesia action coordinator Anwar Maaruf.

At 1pm the demonstrators moved off towards the State Palace via Jl. MH Thamrin. The main streets of the capital were already filled with workers resulting in traffic, including the Trans Jakarta busway having to be diverted. (ken/ndr)

[Translated by James Balowski.]