| Home > South-East Asia >> Indonesia | |
Peaceful May Day rally gets message across
Jakarta Post - May 2, 2006
Ridwan Max Sijabat, Multa Fidrus and Theresia Sufa, Jakarta/Tangerang/Bogor – It was dreaded by some and eagerly awaited by others, but the peaceful World Labor Day rally Monday surprised all, turning Jakarta into a sea of color despite the traffic snarls it caused.
The 40,000 workers, farmers, jobless, journalists and college students proved the services of the 14,000 police and army personnel tasked to guard the May Day march may not have been necessary. "The workers kept their promises to keep the peace," labor activist-cum-politician Budiman Sudjatmiko said.
Spectators cheered and applauded the workers, saying they were aware of their plight and believed in their right to march. "We are awed and inspired by their fight and have no problem as long as everything is under control," said Marwa, representing her fellow account managers at Leo Burnett Kreasindo advertising company.
Construction workers around the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, who could not join in the rally, showed their support by unfurling banners bearing the words "long live the workers".
Thousands of transportation workers swarmed the Jakarta International Container Terminal to mark May Day with a "free speech" forum that lasted for more than two hours, expressing their opposition to the planned revision of the Labor Law and demanding the government improve workers' conditions.
The celebration reached its climax when all workers who were gathered at the venue bowed their heads while vessels and container trucks sounded their horns and building managements hit their fire alarms simultaneously for 10 minutes.
Also attending the celebration were workers from the land and air transportation industries, including state-owned rail company PT Kereta Api Indonesia and airline companies.
Ten thousand workers in Tangerang's Association of Leather, Garment and Textile Workers (SPTSK) gathered for speeches at the back gate of the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, causing traffic jams that forced the cancellation of five flights and one delay as only a few passengers arrived at the airport in time, a spokesman for airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II, M. Waspan, told The Jakarta Post.
SPTSK chairman M. Anwar said that Angkasa Pura and the municipal administration had agreed to let them use a soccer field about 100 meters away from the airport.
"There was a miscommunication among rally leaders from each factory. They stopped and gathered at the back gate instead of marching to the soccer field," he told the Post.
A concert featuring dangdut music had been awaiting them at the soccer field. "We had arranged to have a day off today but get in to work Sunday... That's why we can mobilize a lot of workers today," Anwar said.
Meanwhile, in Bogor, Deputy Regent Albert Pribadi supported the rally and acknowledged workers' important roles in improving the country's economy. "We officially ask the central government to revise the Labor Law and to side more with the workers," he said.
Widespread apprehension over mass gatherings like Monday's was evident in the comment of one spectator: "History tells us that moments like this are just the beginning of the establishment of Communism," said the middle-aged man.
See also:
 |