Between Entertainment and Order, the Dilemma of Street Musicians at Jakarta's Traffic Lights
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Amid efforts to maintain public order, the presence of street musicians at traffic light intersections in South Jakarta remains an unresolved issue.
On one hand, they are considered to violate regulations due to operating on the roadway.
On the other hand, such activities serve as a means of survival for some city residents struggling to access formal employment.
Head of the South Jakarta Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP), Nanto Dwi Subekti, emphasised that street musician activities at traffic lights are fundamentally not permitted.
The regulations include several provisions directly related to activities on the streets.
In terms of road and public place order, the use of green lanes, parks, and public facilities for personal purposes or activities such as unlicensed street vending is not allowed.
Additionally, in provisions on environmental and social order, prohibitions are set against behaviours deemed to disrupt general order, such as littering, damaging public facilities, and social activities like begging, busking, and street hawking in public spaces.
Satpol PP routinely conducts patrols to maintain order at several points frequently used by street musicians. Enforcement is described as not a new matter.
“There used to be some at the Basmar Mampang traffic light, but now there are none. We always patrol regularly,” he said.
Nevertheless, on-the-ground practice shows that the presence of street musicians has not entirely disappeared.
They continue to appear, moving from one spot to another, seemingly following gaps in the patrol schedules of the officers.
Guitars begin to be strummed, microphones switched on, and song voices soon fill the space amid the roar of vehicle engines.
For Iqbal (24), a street musician from Tegal, that short time becomes a particular challenge.
“At traffic lights, the time is at most one to two minutes. So we have to make the most of those two minutes,” said Iqbal when met.
In the limited time, they are required to perform effectively. Popular songs are the main choice, from melancholic pop to cheerful tunes that are easily recognisable.
Not infrequently, drivers waiting for the green light glance over, smile, or even record the brief performance.
Based on Kompas.com observations, there appears to be a fairly organised work pattern.