Protesters call on people to opposes corrupt, pro-capitalist elections

Metro TV News - March 13, 2014

Yogi Bayu Aji, Jakarta – The Political Alternative Committee Alliance (AKPA) held a protest action at the General Election Commission (KPU) offices on Jl. Imam Bonjol in Central Jakarta on Thursday March 13 calling on the public to oppose the 2014 elections.

"What form it should take is up to the people. [Whether they] want to golput [abstain from voting], take to the streets, or go to polling stations but just perforate the ballot paper randomly [invalidate the vote]", said action spokesperson Surya Anta in front of the KPU building.

According to Anta, the elections remain little more than a lot of noise by the old pro-capitalist parties, who steal from the ordinary people and muzzle trade unions. "They're also corruptors and [legislative] candidates who are corruptors. The ordinary people cannot have any expectations in this", he said.

Even Law Number 8/2012 on general elections, continued Anta, needs to be amended because the elections do not favour the essence of democracy. The AKPA believes that this regulation only benefits the interests of the capitalist.

Prior to demonstrating at the KPU, the protesters gave speeches at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta. The AKPA is made up of a number of social movement groups including student organisations and trade unions such as the Solidarity Alliance for Labour Struggle (GSPB), the Indonesian Workers Federation of Struggle (FPBI) and the Progressive Liberation Federation (FPP). (Rrn)

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service.]

Source: http://news.metrotvnews.com/read/2014/03/13/218655/kpu-didemo-gerakan-lawan-pemilu.