The 2009 legislative elections – which are now only 20 days away – are being opposed by labour groups made up of an alliance of organisations that reject the elections because they are part the lies being perpetrated against the public as voters.

“The 2009 general elections are not the people’s elections but rather the elections of the political elite. Because of this therefore they must be opposed if [we] don’t want to be deceived [again]”, said Slamet Khusairi while giving a speech at the Indonesian National Front for Labour Struggle (FNPBI) secretariat in Suratan VI, Kranggan Village in the Prajuritkulon sub-district of Mojokerto yesterday.

In addition to activists from the FNPBI, the action was also joined by a number of other organisations including the Indonesian Buskers Union (SPI), the Union for the Politics of the Poor (PPRM), the Politics for the Poor (PRM), Aspam and student groups.

The occasion was also used by the workers to officiate the opening of an information coordination post (posko) in the vicinity of the FNPBI secretariat. The posko will receive complaints from the public related to the elections, education services, healthcare, repressive acts against buskers and street kids as well as company policies that fail to side with the working class. “We are ready to provide assistance for any kind of complaint,” said Khusairi.

The action, which had been taking place since 11am yesterday, did not just take the form of speeches and calls to oppose the elections. Playing musical instruments, street buskers also called on local residents to elect to golput (white movement, not to mark the ballot paper or to abstain from voting).

“Up until now with electing the political elite they have made out like society can be prosperous. Whereas this is a huge lie”, shouted one of the action participants.

Not content to just hold an action in front of the FNPBI secretariat, they then held a long-march through residential areas giving out leaflets to local residents. Although they did not have a permit from the police, they were determined to continue the march until they reached the intersection in front of the Kranggan Hero’s Monument.

Like other previous actions, furnished with symbols of their organisations they took turns in giving speeches and handed out leaflets to passing drivers. Despite the tight security at the action by scores of municipal police, calls to oppose the elections were continued.

Action coordinator Afik Irwanto said that the action opposing the elections was not just a reflection of the public’s disappointment at the lies of the political elite, but because of the influence of owners of capital that appear inseparable. “Rather than just producing leaders who [don’t] side with the people it would be better for use to reject the undemocratic 2009 elections”, he explained.

Aside from this, through the leaflets they made a call to the public who are anxious about the political promises being made. Conversely, the elections are nothing more than a farcical play by the elite political groups. “We also call on the public not to easily bought by false temptations. [Either] in the form of financial enticements or goods”, he explained.

In addition to the demonstration, opposition to the elections was also demonstrated by three labour activists who are registered as sub-district polling committee and polling station organising committee officials, who declared that they had resigned as election officials. “Because we have different principles it is better to resign”, said Hari Cahyono who was in charge of a polling station in the Wates Magersari village administrative district. (ris/yr)

[Slightly abridged translation by James Balowski.]