Surabaya – A wave of actions criticising the policies of the administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka took place again in Surabaya, right in front of the East Java (Jatim) governor's office at the Grahadi State Building on Friday June 26.
The protest was observed to continue through until the evening, so the security forces guarding the demonstration had to forcibly disperse the protesters.
Initially, when it was already evening, the police gave a warning through a megaphone. The authorities asked the crowd to be orderly and disperse voluntarily.
"To the protesters we urge you to be orderly, once again we urge you to be orderly, demonstrators please be orderly and then disperse voluntarily", said the police commander through a megaphone.
The crowd however, most of whom wore all black clothing, responded by throwing stones towards the Grahadi courtyard. As of 7 pm, hundreds of protesters were still holding their ground.
Police forces were finally deployed to disperse the demonstrators. Water cannon was sprayed at the protesters and a number were detained by police. After being successfully pushed back from the front of the State Grahadi Building, the police blocked the access road.
Earlier on Friday afternoon, around one hundred people from various elements of civil society such as students, workers, micro, small and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) operators and other groups, who called themselves the Anti-Capitalism Front, held an "Indonesia at Death's Door" (#IndonesiaSekarat) protest action at the State Grahadi Building.
According to CNN Indonesia monitoring at the location, the crowd began the action by holding a long-march from the Submarine Monument on Jalan Pemuda towards the Grahadi Building on Jalan Governor Suryo.
Upon arriving at Jalan Governor Suryo, they then unfurled and put up a large banner on the pedestrian bridge (JPO).
The crowd then formed a circle to close off Jalan Governor Suryo so traffic flow had to be diverted. The demonstrators then took turns giving speeches and burning used clothing and second-hand goods in the middle of the road.
Anti-Capitalism Front spokesperson Septia said that today's action was not just a continuation of previous demonstrations, but rather an escalation of civil society protests.
"Today is an extension or breath of resistance from the city of Surabaya. As we can see today everything is expensive. Then [the cost of] basic commodities are also rising", said Septia on the sidelines of the action.
Septia said that they brought a number of demands in this action. The main demand, and what is said to be the most crucial, is a reduction in the price of fuel (BBM) and basic necessities.
Then they also called for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) and the Red and White Village Cooperatives (KDMP) programs to be halted. They also demand that the government fulfill its promise of creating decent jobs.
Local East Java issues such as the reclamation project in Surabaya were also echoed by the protesters.
"Stop the reclamation of Surabaya waterfront land. And free all political prisoners and restore their good names, including the political prisoner known as Komar", she said, referring to Muhammad Ainun Komarullah who was arrested on charges of incitement in March.
Septia, who also admitted to working as an MSME manager, said that the recent increase in the price of basic commodities was not just data, but a real experience that she herself has felt.
"That's what I'm also complaining about as an MSME manager, who feels that a lot of basic commodities have gone up. What my customers then complain about. That's a representation of myself as a small trader", she said.
And, here are the 11 Indonesia at Death's Door demands:
1. Lower the prices of basic necessities and fuel.
2. Halt the MBG and the Red and White Village Cooperatives programs.
3. Revoke the recently revised National Police (Polri) Law and the Indonesian Military (TNI) Law.
4. Create decent jobs.
5. Disband the TNI's territorial command and stop TNI involvement in the civil domain.
6. Stop the Surabaya waterfront land reclamation project.
7. Release all political prisoners and restore their good names.
8. Prioritise the education and health budgets.
9. Create and expand public transportation that is deaccent, inclusive and free.
10. Dissolve the parliament and build people's power.
11. End private ownership of the means of production.
(frd/kid)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "11 Tuntutan Aksi Masyarakat Sipil Surabaya yang Dibubarkan Malam Ini".]
