Tempo
Interactive - May 1, 2009
Soetana
Monang Hasibuan, Medan – An estimated thousand or more protesters from the
Alliance of Workers and Employees (ABP) held a May Day action in the North
Sumatra city of Medan on Friday May 1.
During the
action they occupied the road in front of the Medan Regional House of
Representatives, and then set off for the North Sumatra governor’s office to
join up with other worker demonstrators.
According to
Tempo’s observations, the action proceeded under a tight escort by Medan
municipal police. In addition to putting their officiers on alert, police also
erected a steel fence in front governor’s office and mobilised two water
cannons and a Barracuda tactical vehicle.
During the
action in front of the governor’s office, the protesters demanded that North
Sumatra Governor Syamsul Arifin appear to listen to their demands.
[Translated
by James Balowski.]
