Jakarta – Protesters from the Labour Movement with the People (GEBRAK) and other social groups have disbanded after holding a demonstration near the Horse Statue in Central Jakarta on Thursday June 27 opposing the Public Housing Savings (Tapera) program.
The demonstrators began leaving the location at around 4.55 pm as they set light to different coloured flares. Public Facility Maintenance Agency (PPSU) officers could be seen still trying to clean up the rubbish scattered around the area.
GEBRAK spokesperson and Indonesian Trade Union Congress Alliance (KASBI) Chairperson Sunarno said that they plan to hold even larger demonstrations against the Tapera program, although he did not reveal when these actions would be held.
"We, in the future, are planning big simultaneous and joint actions to reject the Tapera Law", said Sunarno at the location of the protest action.
Sunarno asked that the protesters at the action consolidate with their respective bases after they disperse.
There were five demands conveyed during the action. First, demanding that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo revoke Tapera Law Number 4/2016 and its derivative government regulations.
Second, demanding that President Widodo open space for a democratic, participatory, transparent and inclusive dialogue in the organisation of housing development for the people.
Third, demanding the government build housing for the ordinary people that is decent and economically affordable for low-income people, which is integrated with workplaces and access to modern transportation modes.
Fourth, demanding that Widodo revoke Job Creation Law Number 6/2023 because it is the main source of the suffering for the ordinary people and workers which has resulted in job uncertainty, low wages, reduced severance pay and ultimately, difficulties in owning a house.
"Bring prosperity to the people, implement a decent national wage and guarantee job security for workers", said Sunarno.
Earlier, during the demonstration near the Horse Statue, the workers performed a theatrical action depicting the mandatory wage deductions for the Tapera program for the working classes.
The theatrical action was opened with a scene showing ordinary people from various professions such as laborers, farmers, fishers and health workers doing their work.
After working their fingers to the bone each day, they also receive wages. Suddenly however someone asks them to pay a portion of their wages for the Tapera program.
The workers' facial expressions immediately became dejected. They were forced to give money from their hard work to the government for Tapera.
Meanwhile, fires from the burning of tires on Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat near the Horse Statue in the direction of the State Palace were still burning during theatrical action.
The demonstrators also hung a large banner reading "Revoke the Tapera Right Now!!!" from the Horse Statue pedestrian overpass bridge.
[Abridged translation by James Balowski based on two articles by CNN Indonesia on June 27. The original title of the lead article was "Demo Tolak Tapera Bubar, Massa Ancam Aksi Lebih Besar".]
