Iqbal Fadil, Jakarta – Those of you planning activities in the capital today should be on guard for traffic jams. Nine locations in the city will be enlivened by protest actions by a number of different groups. Where exactly? According to the Metro Jaya regional police Traffic Management Centre (TMC) the following locations will be hit by protests:

At around 8.30am the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) will be holding a protest action in front of the offices of the Ministry for Women’s Empowerment on Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat in Central Jakarta. Around 500 people are expected to join the action demanding an end to discrimination and violence against women and calling on the government to ratify International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention No. 183 the Protection of Mothers.

Starting at 9am, the Jakarta NGO Communication Forum (FK-LSM Jakarta) will be holding a demonstration at three locations, the Attorney General’s Office on Jl. Sisingamangaraja in South Jakarta, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Building on Jl. Rasuna Said in Kuningan, also in South Jakarta, and in front of the State Palace on Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara in Central Jakarta. Around 300 people will take part in the action demanding an investigation into the Bank Indonesia Liquidity Support Scheme (BLBI) corruption case and questioning the handing of a corruption, collusion and nepotism case involving the procurement of radios at the Jakarta Regional Equipment Bureau.

Following on from this at 10am, former employees of the state-owned company PT Pertamina Shipping will hold a protest action at two locations, at the Pertamina Shipping offices on Jl. Yos Sudarso then at the Pertamina head office on Jl. Medan Merdeka Timur in Central Jakarta. Some 100 people are expected to take part in the action calling on the government to pay the employees outstanding wages.

Also at 10am, the Indonesian National Front for Labour Struggle (FNPBI) will be organising a demonstration in front of the Exxon Mobile offices at the BRI Building in the Benhil area in Central Jakarta. Around 100 people will take part in the action demanding the nationalisation of the mining industry for the welfare of the people. The protesters plan to gather first at the Benhil market.

Next, at 11am, the Try the Corrupters Peoples Movement (GERAK) will hold a protest action in front of the KPK building in Kuningan. The 200 or so people who will take part in the demonstration will be calling on the KPK to fully investigate a bribery scandal involving the BLBI corruption case.

Finally, at around 11am the Indonesian Student Circle (LMI) will hold a demonstration in front of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) building on Jl. Gatot Subroto in South Jakarta. Around 100 people are expected to take part in the action opposing the importation of rice, as it will not resolve the problem of hunger.

The TMC has issued an appeal to the public passing through these locations to be on the alert and anticipate traffic jams. (bal/nwk)

[Translated by James Balowski.]