Wisnu Aji Dewabrata, Palembang – A International Labour Day demonstration in Palembang, South Sumatra on Friday May 1 took place without the presence of workers.

Instead, the scores of demonstrators at there rally were comprised of students and non-government organisation activist such as the Palembang Legal Aid Foundation (LBH), the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) and the Palembang Simpul Urban Poor Linkage (Uplink).

According to Kompas’ observations, no workers appeared to take part in the action that was centred on the Waterfall roundabout in which the protesters called for the abolition of contract labour. The groups said that contract labour is inhuman because the rights of contract workers are not respected.

The action was made more interesting because the demonstrators brought effigies symbolising capitalism as the oppressor of the working class. (WAD)

[Translated by James Balowski.]