Detik.com
- December 30, 2009
Amanda
Ferdina, Jakarta – Supporters of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) from
the Indonesian People's Solidarity Coalition (KSRI), who were protesting against
the launch of the book Unmasking the Cikeas Octopus: Behind the Bank Century
Scandal, were challenged to take part in the event. In the end however,
they chose to disband instead.
During the
action at the Doekoen Coffee shop on Jl. Raya Pasar Minggu in South Jakarta on
Wednesday December 30, around 25 youths shouted slogans and gave speeches
outside the venue. "Banish George, he's a foreign lackey!" shouted
KSRI coordinator Abdul Fatah in a speech.
Hearing
this, participants attending the launch challenged them to come in side. They
even waved 50,000 and 1,000 rupiah notes at the protesters. "Ayo,
come on in if you want!", they said. The demonstrators meanwhile continued
to shout "Banish George! Banish George!"
Confronted
by the challenge, instead of joining the event the protesters started to
disband. "You're just embarrassing SBY instead!", shouted the
participants.
One of the
protesters, who decline to give their name, said that they had come from the
Gunung Putri in nearby Bogor. They even admitted to not knowing the name of the
organisation, the KSRI that they were demonstrating under that day. At 1.20
they disbanded and left in a bus bound for Bogor. (fay/nrl)
[Translated
by James Balowski.]
