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