Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Capitalism only benefits 1%, the other 99% suffer say Occupy Jakarta protesters

Liputan 6 - October 19, 2011
Andri Yudhistira, Jakarta – A number of people in the name of "Occupy Jakarta" protested in front of the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) on Jl. Sudirman in Jakarta on October 19. The protesters said that capitalism had failed to bring prosperity to the ordinary people, and opposed the application of the capitalist system in the Indonesian economy.

"In all countries it has been demonstrated that the capitalist system only brings prosperity to a specific group of 1 percent, while the other 99 percent suffer. This is also the case in Indonesia. Capitalism has failed to bring prosperity to the ordinary people. [We must] immediately build an economic system that is humane and just for all the people of Indonesia", said Occupy Jakarta initiator Bob Sulaiman in front of the JSX building on Wednesday.

According to Sulaiman, the peaceful action was held to warn the government and the House of Representatives to put an end to the domination of the capitalist system in Indonesia that is so very harmful to the ordinary people.

The Occupy Jakarta protest offered a number of economic principles that are in line with the five principles of social justice. "There are 11 concepts, one of which was an economy that empowers and protects farmers, the traditional market and small- and medium scale enterprises from the hegemony of large companies and multinationals", explained Sulaiman.

Although there were not many demonstrators, they were closely watched over by scores of police officers from the Metro Jaya regional police. (ARI)

[Translated by James Balowski.]