Riau islanders demand separate province

JAKARTA: More than 500 people from the Riau islands rallied outside the House of Representatives building on Thursday in an effort to win support for their demands for a sovereign province.

They compared what they called a lackluster response to their demands from the House with the speedy legislative process which led to the establishment of autonomous provinces in Banten, Gorontalo, Bangka Belitung, and North Maluku.

"Why are our aspirations still unrecognized -- despite the fact that we have been fighting for two years?" Zulkarnaen, one of the demonstrators, shouted in dismay.

The protesters, sporting traditional costumes, waved banners reflecting their demands. They hailed from, among other places, Batam, Tanjung Pinang, Natuna and Karimun.

Zulkarnaen said the demonstrators came to Jakarta after both the central government and their local legislative council rebuffed their demands.

Thursday's was the third such rally in as many days since the people from Riau arrived here on Tuesday.

They have staged protests in two other Central Jakarta locations, at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, and outside the Ministry of Home Affairs. -- JP