Protests mark celebration of Independence Day<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Freedom of expression marked on Tuesday the
\ncommemoration of the 54th anniversary of Indonesia's Independence
\nDay in Central Jakarta with three different groups of protesters
\ndemanding social and political changes.<\/p>\n
A group of about 200 becak (pedicab) drivers staged a
\ndemonstration at the Hotel Indonesian traffic circle, demanding
\nthe city administration revoke a 1998 regulation that prohibits
\nthe drivers from operating in the city.<\/p>\n
Separately, a group of 50 activists from the Forum for the
\nPeople's Struggle staged a demonstration near the office of the
\nGeneral Elections Commission (KPU) on Jl. Imam Bonjol. The
\ndemonstrators called for the establishment of a government free
\nfrom practices of corruption, collusion and nepotism. They also
\nvoiced support for Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri's presidential bid.<\/p>\n
When the activists tried to march to the Hotel Indonesia
\ntraffic circle to join the becak drivers police dispersed the
\nactivists. At least six of the demonstrators were wounded in a
\nsubsequent clash with police.<\/p>\n
Later in the afternoon, both groups joined some 700 activists
\nof the Student Action Front for Reform and Democracy (Famred),
\nwho had earlier gathered at Atma Jaya Catholic University's
\ncampus on Jl. Sudirman.<\/p>\n
The students and the becak drivers, however, were unsuccessful
\nin their attempts to leave the campus, and staged their protests
\ninside the university compound. They initially had intentions of
\ngathering outside the House of Representatives (DPR)\/People's
\nConsultative Assembly (MPR) building.<\/p>\n
Unlike previous years, Jakartans' celebrations of the
\ncountry's Aug. 17 Independence Day were muted.<\/p>\n
Red-and-white national flags, many of which had clearly seen
\nbetter days, were mainly seen adorning state offices and
\nbuildings, such as the DPR\/MPR complex.<\/p>\n
Many skyscrapers, banks, and business centers in the capital,
\nwhich in the past were bedecked with decorations and national
\nflags of all sizes, were unadorned.<\/p>\n
The number of buildings with blinking red-and-white neon
\nlighting to remind people of the celebration were down on
\nprevious years.<\/p>\n
A similar muted response was also evident in residential areas
\nin the capital and its surroundings.<\/p>\n
Several subdistrict and neighborhood chiefs told The Jakarta
\nPost this year's lackluster celebrations may have been due to the
\nabsence of instructions from the city administration.<\/p>\n
They said they had not received any information in regard to
\nwhether neighborhood communities should celebrate the country's
\nindependence.<\/p>\n
"We just let the people decide among themselves whether to
\nhold special attractions like before. We must understand that the
\ncurrent economic condition is worse than before," said Royusman,
\nchief of Pulogadung subdistrict in East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
For similar reasons residents of Paseban subdistrict in
\nCentral Jakarta decided to only put on a few attractions for
\nlocal children.<\/p>\n
"No panjat pinang (grease-covered palm tree climbing) contest
\nfor the adults this year," said a senior resident, Adek.<\/p>\n
"We indeed have tried to collect money for the celebration,
\nbut we were only successful in raising Rp 181,000," he said.<\/p>\n
To celebrate the proclamation of Indonesia's independence,
\nneighborhoods across the country traditionally collect money to
\nhold various games and performances, for which prizes are
\ndistributed to the winners.<\/p>\n
The most popular form of entertainment is probably the panjat
\npinang contest, in which participants climb a grease-covered
\nareca nut trunk in an attempt to reach the top from which are
\nhung various gifts.<\/p>\n
The sluggish response to the celebration also affected vendors
\noffering the national flags and the tree trunks.<\/p>\n
Many of them were unable to sell all their merchandise.<\/p>\n
Andri, who hawked flags on Jl. Salemba in Central Jakarta,
\nsaid he was could only sell four small flags on Monday.<\/p>\n
"In the past I could sell about 20 flags a day," he said.<\/p>\n
Ramja, who sold flags in the Kampung Melayu area in East
\nJakarta said that in previous years he could make a profit of
\nmore than Rp 100,000.<\/p>\n
"But now, I have only earned a profit of about Rp 70,000," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
However, the management of Ancol recreational park in North
\nJakarta attracted many visitors with their Independence Day
\ncelebrations.<\/p>\n
Thousands of people attempted to win gifts worth millions of
\nrupiah, which hung from 150 palm trees erected at several
\nlocations in Ancol.<\/p>\n
Park employee Ardi said the gifts -- which included bicycles,
\ncameras and clothes -- were donations from sponsors.<\/p>\n
He said participants of the panjat pinang contest were all
\npark visitors. "All the visitors who have bought tickets can join
\nthe race," he said.<\/p>\n
In Bogor, West Java, there was no traffic congestion, as most
\nshops closed for the day.<\/p>\n
Because of the few customers, some public transportation
\ndrivers voiced complaints over their reduced income.<\/p>\n
Some Bogor residents joined independence day gatherings at
\ntheir respective housing complexes, enjoying panjat pinang
\ncompetitions, tug-of-war and sack races.<\/p>\n
Visitors however, packed the Bogor Raya Park, where many
\nticket scalpers sold the park's entry tickets for Rp 2,000 each,
\nfrom the official Rp 1,500 charge.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Paledang Penitentiary granted on Tuesday
\nreduced the sentence of 106 of its 525 prisoners.<\/p>\n
"Fifteen prisoners were free to go, while 91 others received
\ntwo to six months reduction in their prison terms," said Anton
\nNafsika, head of the Paledang Penitentiary.
\n(24\/edt\/ind\/03\/04\/jun\/bsr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/protests-mark-celebration-of-independence-day-1447893297",
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