South Jakarta Resident Reports Intimidation After Protesting Late-Night Firecrackers

A woman in Pondok Pinag, South Jakarta, Amanda Andono, has recounted an unpleasant experience during a Maulid Nabi celebration, where the use of firecrackers continued until the early hours of the morning.

Amanda stated that the event, held on Saturday (3/9), lasted from the morning until midnight as part of a large family reunion. She described the actions of the family hosting the event as arrogant, suggesting they acted as if they held exclusive rights to the land where the event was held.

According to Amanda, she was not the only resident disturbed by the noise; two other neighbours living nearby also felt affected by the loud firecrackers. She recounted that upon returning home at 10:00 PM, she was unable to enter her house and faced severe intimidation when seeking access.

She noted that one of the affected residents was shouted at after approaching the event to lodge a protest. Although mediation attempts were made, Amanda claimed the first attempt, initiated by the local neighbourhood head (RW), was unsuccessful as the organisers failed to attend personally.

A second mediation session was held at the local sub-district office (Kelurahan) at 8:00 PM, involving the organisers. In a video recording, Amanda, wearing a polka-dot nightgown, was seen protesting the late-night noise, noting that the loud sounds caused her child, who has special needs, to wake up and suffer from tremors.

During her protest, a man approached her in a challenging manner, and Amanda alleged that she was threatened with being slapped by one of the event participants.

Prior to this, the Pondok Pinang Sub-district office in Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta, conducted mediation regarding the complaints. The sub-district authorities revealed that the committee organising the family memorial (haul) and Maulid Nabi event had not obtained the required permits.