Surya
Online - April 5, 2009
Palu,
Central Sulawesi – On April 5, scores of activists from the Central Sulawesi
Union for the Politics of the Poor (PPRM Sulteng) declared their opposition to
the 2009 general elections saying they are undemocratic and only involve the
wealthy elite.
“The 2009
elections are a festival of the corruptors so it will be very problematic if
they [end up] sitting in government or the legislator,” said action coordinator
Muhammad Aqsa on Sunday.
During the
action – which took place at the GOR Park in the Central Sulawesi city of Palu
– participants took turns in giving speeches. They also distributed leaflets
containing a statement opposing the 2009 elections.
According to
Aqsa, there are still many remnants of Suharto’s New Order regime taking part
in the elections with the aim of returning to power. “On the grounds of helping
the poor, it is precisely they who are manipulating the people in order to reap
personal profit”, he said.
In addition
to this, continued Aqsa, there are also fake reformists who are intentionally
taking advantage of the momentum of the electoral campaign to curry favour from
the people. “What has become of your promises. The people are fed up with being
lied to”, he asked.
Aqsa also
said that in order to reduce the number of people living in poverty, what is
needed is a leadership that is honest and capable of prioritising the interests
of the ordinary people. Through the nationalisation of industry, he said, the
people will be more prosperous because it will create large numbers of job
opportunities.
Following
the action, the protesters disbanded in an orderly manner. No security
personnel were present.
[Translated
by James Balowski.]
