Street rallies, strikes are staples of year so far

Street rallies, strikes are staples of year so far

JAKARTA (JP): The greater Jakarta area has seen at least 124
street demonstrations and some 100 worker strikes up to the first
week of June this year, according to the police.

The protests, involving hundreds of thousands of people from
different walks of life, were mainly focused on demands for
political and economic reforms, City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E.
Aritonang told The Jakarta Post Thursday.

Some others were asking the government to lower staple food
prices and demanding better salaries and welfare, he said.

This figure reflects the largest number of street
demonstrations and strikes recorded by the capital in decades.

"Strikes and demonstrations occurred almost everyday in the
capital in the past few months," Aritonang said, adding that his
office has not yet compiled the precise number of strikes
recorded during the period.

According to police findings, most of the street
demonstrations were driven by students and members of non-
governmental organizations and business institutions, Aritonang
said.

Even compared to last year, 1998 is considered the busiest
year for the police, he said.

"In 1997, we were busy preparing security for this year's
March General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly, but
there were only a small number of street protests," the officer
said.

The continuing extreme drop of the rupiah's value against the
U.S. dollar, the seemingly endless hike in prices for goods and
services plus the ongoing political uncertainties have apparently
ignited many people to stage protests.

People joining the anti-government rallies also included state
employees and professionals, such as doctors.

The continual protests against the skyrocketing prices of
essential goods and the government led Soeharto to quit on May
21.

In the beginning, many thought people might no longer join
rallies after Soeharto announced his resignation.

However, many people still rallied on the streets, at their
respective offices or factories and at the front gate of the
House of Representatives building here.

"In such an era of reform, people are now free to express
their opinion. And one of the most popular ways is by staging
demonstrations," Aritonang said.

On Thursday, security forces armed with guns were forced to
blockade some 200 people claiming they were laborers at an area
in Tebet, South Jakarta, to block the planned staging of a huge
demonstration, said to involve 7,000 laborers led by labor
activist Muchtar Pakpahan, at the House of Representatives
building.

The ongoing rallies in the capital, however, have now started
to disappoint people.

Contacted by the Post yesterday, many people called on the
protesters to temporarily stop the rallies to let all Jakartans
to start their businesses again.

Sociologist Paulus Wirutomo of University of Indonesia said
that people have started getting sick and tired of the rallies.

"Imagine if more people develop such antipathy against
demonstrations, when demonstrating is the most powerful weapon of
the people themselves.

"What else would we be able to do later to fight?" Paulus
asked.

In his opinion, changes take time. "It's not magic," he said.

"I think all of us need a break to create balance and return
to normal living. The chaos and instability created by unplanned
actions will only create more suffering," Paulus added.

Taxi driver Wandi of the Gamya company complained the
continuous rallies had drastically reduced his earnings.

"It is hard enough for me to make a living these days. Demos
only create traffic jams and I don't get customers," he said.

Arsanti, an employee, said that she was tired of the protests.

"First I thought demos were great. But later on we could see
them everyday on the streets. This country is falling apart and
the protesters are only yelling. Why don't they do something
good?"

She also felt upset because the rallies have caused worries to
many, including her neighbors at her housing estate.

The estate looks like an army base now as residents have
jointly set up a neighborhood watch to anticipate unrest.

First Lt. Sugiyono from the City Police shared the same
opinion.

"To tell you the truth, I'm really tired. We (police officers)
haven't had any break since last year (the preparations for the
General Session). I wish the protesters knew how it feels to be a
police officer," he said.

According to Aritonang, it's not wrong to hold protests.

"But protest everyday? This city has to work on so many things
after being rocked by riots last month. So, it would be better if
we could give the city a chance to heal," he suggested. (edt)