Surrounded by razor wire, parliament besieged by hundreds of workers

Detik.com - May 1, 2011

• Dibarikade Kawat Berduri, Gedung DPR Diserbu Ratusan Pendemo - detikNews. Minggu, 01/05/2011

Laurencius Simanjuntak, Jakarta – Even though its occupants are in recess, the House of Representatives (DPR) building in Central Jakarta was the target of around 150 protesters commemorating Labour Day.

The demonstrators, who wore grey T-shirts and began arriving in buses at around 10am, gave speeches and unfurled flags. There was no additional security provided, but a 200-metre long razor-wire baracade had been setup up in front of the DPR guarded by around 20 police officers.

"The plan today was for 15 thousand people to come. In fact we have a permit for 15 thousand", said Metal, Electronic and Machinery Trade Union-All Indonesia Workers Union Federation (SPLEM-SPSI) action coordinator.

The demonstrators appeared united in their demands opposing outsourcing, rejecting set work shifts, calling for the ratification of the Social Insurance Management Agency draft law (RUU BPJS), demanding that May 1 to be declared a national holiday and calling for the repeal of Labour Ministry Regulation 1/2005 on staged achievement of the reasonable living cost index. (gah/fay)

[Abridged translation by James Balowski.]