Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Thirteen demos today, Medan Merdeka Barat and Rasuna Said the busiest

Detik.com - August 12, 2009

Shohib Masykur, Jakarta – Thirteen protest actions will be held in Jakarta today. As usual, it seems that traffic jams will be unavoidable, particularly on roads such as Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat in Central Jakarta and HR Rasuna Said in South Jakarta, which will be the most frequent targets of the protests.

Based on information from the Metro Jaya regional police Traffic Management Centre for Wednesday August 12, the first demonstration will be held at the central offices of the company PT Bambi on Jl. Balikpapan and then the Jakarta city hall on Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan at 8.30am.

Then at the Cipinang penitentiary in East Jakarta, the Indonesian Women’s Coalition (KPI) will hold a protest action between 9am and 2pm. At around the same time, the People’s Democratic Fortress (Bendera) will hold a demonstration at the Constitutional Court building on Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat.

The forth protest action will take palace at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle at 9am. An hour later, again at the Constitutional Court, a second group of demonstrators calling themselves the Anti Narcotics and Gang Violence Movement of Concern (GAPENTA) will also be demonstrating there.

The sixth action will be held at the office of the Ministry of Labour and Transmigration on Jl. Gatot Subroto by the Indonesian Migrant Workers Union at 10am. At the same time meanwhile, the Indonesian Youth Communication Forum (FKPI) will hold a demonstration at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) building on Jl. HR Rasuna Said.

Also at 10am, the central office of the company PT Sinar Mas at the Bank International Indonesia building on Jl. Thamrin in Central Jakarta will be the target of a demonstration by the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi).

At the same time, the offices of the Department of Transport and Communication on Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat will be the target of an action by the Transport Safety Monitoring Committee (KPK-T).

For the tenth protest, at 11am it will be the turn of the PDT offices on Jl. Abdul Muis in Central Jakarta to be the target of a protest by the Anti Corruption Youth Network (JAMAK). Following this they will move off to the KPK offices. Also present at the KPK will be another group of protesters from the Nahdliyin Youth Caucus (KMN).

A twelfth action will be held at the Century Tower building on Jl. HR Rasuna Said by the PT Mitra Bangun Griya Trade Union at 11.45am. Finally, the offices of the Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Agency (BP Migas) on Jl. Gatot Subroto will be the target of a demonstration at 12noon. (sho/mpr)

[Translated by James Balowski.]

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Pro-Munir demonstrators demand judicial review into top spy’s release

Detik.com - August 4, 2009

E Mei Amelia R, Jakarta – The Attorney General’s Office is again being urged to immediately submit a judicial review over the Supreme Court’s verdict to release Muchdi Purwoprandjono.

This time the request was conveyed by some 200 people calling themselves the “Friends of Munir”, who gave speeches in front of the AGO’s office on Jl. Sultan Hasanudin in South Jakarta at a protest action on Tuesday August 4.

The protesters, who wore black and red T-shirts with pictures of Munir, arrived using four Metromini buses and a vehicle carrying a sound system.

The wife of the late Munir, Suciwati took part in the protest action along with Solidarity Action Committee for Munir (Kasum) activist Choirul Anam and the director of the Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation, Asfinawati. Prior to this they held demonstrations in front of the State Palace and the National Police headquarters.

“The Attorney General must carry out reforms by appointing a credible team of prosecutors to fully investigate the Munir case. Submit a judicial review on Muchdi’s release now”, said one of the protesters, Ainul Yakin.

The also demanded that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono provide political support for fully resolving the case and put pressure on National Police chief General Bambang Hendarso Danuri to [re-]activate the Munir [fact finding] team in order to open the way for a follow up investigation into the Munir case.

A number of police officers were visible watching over the action and directing traffic along the length of Jl. Sultan Hasanudin in front of the AGO. No traffic congestion was apparent as a result of the protest action. (ndr/iy)

[Translated by James Balowski.]