Residents' support becomes provision for masses from Pati to Jakarta

The Pati United Community Alliance (AMPB) has stated that public support in the form of logistics and donations served as provisions for participating in a rally to voice aspirations in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) building in Jakarta on Thursday (27/8).

AMPB coordinator Supriyono, also known as Botok, said the departure of the masses from Pati, Central Java, was carried out independently with the support of donations from the public.

“Self-funded by friends and donations from the community,” Botok said when met in Jakarta on Wednesday.

He said five buses from Pati were scheduled to depart for Jakarta on Wednesday to take part in the rally on Thursday (27/8).

According to him, the public support demonstrates attention to the aspirations brought by AMPB, particularly regarding the eradication of corruption and the passage of the Asset Forfeiture Bill.

“This is proof of public support for the aspiration of the death penalty for corruptors and the immediate passage of the Asset Forfeiture Bill for corruptors,” he said.

Support for the demonstrators was also visible around the gathering point of rally participants in Jakarta. A number of residents came bringing food and mineral water to distribute to the crowd.

However, he stressed that the presence of people from various regions was not due to the invitation or interests of any particular group, but rather as a form of concern about the issue of corruption eradication.

“This is purely the aspiration of the Indonesian people,” he said.

He said AMPB chose to attend the rally in Jakarta after receiving information that residents of Greater Jakarta would also voice aspirations regarding the Asset Forfeiture Bill on 27 August.

According to him, AMPB had previously conveyed similar aspirations in Pati. The arrival in Jakarta then became a form of support for the public’s aspiration to have the Asset Forfeiture Bill passed immediately.

Botok stressed that AMPB would voice its aspirations peacefully and concentrate its activities in front of the DPR building.

“We support the movement of our friends in Greater Jakarta who will hold a rally on 27 August,” he said.