Student action slams elections as 'farce' perpetrated by political elite

KRYogya - March 5, 2014

Ivan Aditya, Sleman – A group of students calling themselves the Yogyakarta Indonesian Student Union (SMI) held a theatrical action opposing the 2014 elections at the Sunan Kalijaga Islamic State University (UIN) intersection in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta on Wednesday March 5.

The activists said that the elections, which are considered to be the climax of the festival of democracy, are little more than a farce perpetrated by the political elite in order to deceive the people.

Action coordinator Abdul Rahman said that none of the political parties taking part in the 2014 legislative and presidential elections is really fighting for the interests of the ordinary people. "All of the current political parties are filled with hordes of people with capital and money. So their policies are designed to protect and give priority to their own interests", he said.

The celebrations, which are referred to as a five-yearly festival of democracy for the people, are in fact little more than an arena to squander the people's money without producing quality leaders. The people are given sweet promises but after the politicians are sitting in parliament they forget what was said.

During the action the students held speeches and put up banners and posters. They also held a theatrical action in the middle of the intersection. As vehicles passed to and fro, two students played the role of legislative candidates appearing to squabble with each other, which a group of bare-chested students did push-ups under the intense heat of the sun.

"This depicts legislative candidates busy bickering with each other and taking care of their own interests while the little people are in fact being left to suffer. This is what is currently happening in our country", said Rahman.

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

Source: http://krjogja.com/read/207231/aktivis-mahasiswa-tolak-pemilu.kr.