21 April Protest: Crowds Fill East Kalimantan DPRD Office

Students and crowds from various civil society organisations began filling the East Kalimantan DPRD office. Speeches started being delivered during the 21 April demonstration. As reported by detikcom, the first speech was opened by the Forum for Concerned Persons with Disabilities and Athletes. They voiced their demands regarding Cash Social Assistance (BST) up to employment issues. The second speech was delivered by the Dayak Paser civil society organisation from North Penajam Paser. During the action, several students climbed a billboard that previously displayed images of the Council Chair and Members. The students tore down those images and replaced them with their own banners inscribed with three demands. The three demands written were: auditing all East Kalimantan provincial government policies, stopping KKN practices in East Kalimantan, and urging the East Kalimantan DPRD to immediately take action and fully carry out its oversight function. In the front row facing the police, crowds from the disability forum were visible, followed by civil society organisations up to students. Earlier, the crowds smeared the DPRD office fence with oil. That fence had been fitted with barbed wire since Monday (20/4). Barbed wire was also installed in front of the East Kalimantan Governor’s office and the Governor’s official residence. To ensure the smooth running of the action and other public activities, the Samarinda Police Traffic Unit implemented traffic engineering at the DPRD and Governor’s office. The arrangements were made to maintain smooth vehicle flow amid potential crowd density. The Head of Traffic at Samarinda Police, Commissioner La Ode Prasetyo, stated that on 21 April, the first demonstration would take place at the East Kalimantan DPRD office. In the afternoon, the crowds would then move to the East Kalimantan Governor’s office. “For the public passing in front of the DPRD, please find alternative routes to avoid getting stuck in traffic,” said La Ode to reporters on Sunday (19/4).