Pluit Community Visits Officials After RW Administrator Removes Cat Feeding Ban Banner

A number of representatives from animal lover communities, led by activist Lirabica, visited the Pluit subdistrict office in Penjaringan, North Jakarta, to question the policy of a local neighbourhood association (RW) administrator who had put up a banner prohibiting the feeding of stray cats in the residential area. According to Lirabica, the installation of the prohibition notice was considered a step taken without thorough consensus. “After an investigation, it was discovered that the ban was a unilateral action orchestrated by an RW official,” Lirabica explained to reporters on Saturday (18/7). She also added that there were indications of psychological pressure applied to several local residents and security officers to make them willing to put up the banner in public areas. Lirabica asserted that she would not remain silent upon learning of the written ban on feeding cats. “I, Lirabica, along with my team and all animal lovers in Indonesia, will not stay quiet if there is injustice against God’s creatures. Our nation is a compassionate and dignified country,” she stressed. She also drew public attention to the figure of President Prabowo Subianto, who is publicly known for his high concern for animal welfare, while reminding that no party should act arbitrarily towards neglected street animals. “Let no one try to commit evil against God’s weak creatures,” Lirabica stated. Currently, all attributes of the cat feeding ban banner have reportedly been completely removed by local officials. Following the removal of the notice, residents of RW 08 Pluit are once again free to feed stray cats in the surrounding area without any local regulatory hindrance.