News 2009

May 2009

Indonesia
Detik.com – May 1, 2009

Ari Saputra, Jakarta – A giant orange-coloured ball was rolled around the Hotel Indonesia roundabout on May 1 adding to the congestion caused by thousands of workers commemorating May Day in Jakarta.

Indonesia
Tempo Interactive – May 1, 2009

Soetana Monang Hasibuan, Medan – An estimated thousand or more protesters from the Alliance of Workers and Employees (ABP) held a May Day action in the North Sumatra city of Medan on Friday May 1.

Indonesia
Detik.com – May 1, 2009

Reno Nugraha, Cirebon – Scores of workers and students took to the streets in the West Java city of Cirebon on May 1 to commemorate International Labour Day, blockading the Jakarta-Cirebon northern coast road at Jl. Brigjen Darsono.

Indonesia
Tempo Interactive – May 1, 2009

Bibin Bintariadi, Malang – Commemorating International Labour Day on May 1, the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) demanded that media employers provide journalists with a decent wage.

Indonesia
Detik.com – May 1, 2009

Andi Saputra, Jakarta – Hundreds of workers from the Federated Alliance of Independent Trade Unions (FGSBM) held an action in which they marched backwards towards the Department of Labour and Transmigration on Jl. Gatot Soebroto in South Jakarta.

Indonesia
Kompas – May 1, 2009

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

West Papua
Detik.com – May 1, 2009

Gede Suardana, Denpasar – Denpasar municipal police in Bali have taken two Papua youths into custody who they suspect were planning to join May Day rallies in order to call for a referendum in Papua.

April 2009

Indonesia
Detik.com – April 29, 2009

Khairul Ikhwan, Medan – Thousands of farmers in North Sumatra (Sumut) have threatened to boycott the July 8 presidential elections if the various problems facing farmers are not resolved. This threat was conveyed during a protest action at the offices of the North Sumatra National Land Agency (BPN) on Jl.

Indonesia
Kompas – April 28, 2009

Jakarta – The people’s political movement should not just be directed towards taking power, but it would be preferable if the movement is also direct towards building the economy. In Indonesia such a measure is extremely important because from the start Indonesia has not had the power of capital.

Indonesia
Okezone – April 27, 2009

Depok – In the lead up to the commemoration of International Labour Day or May Day, the Workers Challenge Alliance (ABM) and the Greater Jakarta Railway Workers Trade Union (SPKAJ) are planning massive actions in Jakarta on May 1.

Indonesia
Detik.com – April 24, 2009

Ari Saputra, Jakarta – Around 40 workers from the Workers Challenge Alliance (ABM) held a demonstration on April 24 calling on the political elite – who are in middle of fighting over the presidency and vice presidency – to pay more attention to the people.

Indonesia
Kompas – April 6, 2009

Yogyakarta – On Sunday April 6, around 40 students from the United People’s Committee (KRB) demonstrated at the Gadjah Mada University roundabout in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta. The protesters were opposing the 2009 general elections and calling for the immediate creation of an anti-imperialist government.

Indonesia
Waspada Online – April 6, 2009

Medan – The North Sumatra Union for the Politics of the Poor Front (FPPRM) believes that the administration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has failed. Because of this therefore, they are opposing the 2009 general elections.

Indonesia
Warta Jatim (East Java News) – April 6, 2009

Surabaya – On Sunday April 5, protesters from the East Java People’s Union Against the Elections (PRTP) held a demonstration at the Bungkul Park in the East Java provincial capital of Surabaya.

Indonesia
Surya Online – April 5, 2009

Palu, Central Sulawesi – On April 5, scores of activists from the Central Sulawesi Union for the Politics of the Poor (PPRM Sulteng) declared their opposition to the 2009 general elections saying they are undemocratic and only involve the wealthy elite.

Indonesia
Antarsumut.com – April 5, 2009

Medan – On April 5 scores of people from the North Sumatra Union for the Politics of the Poor Front (FPPRM-SU) held a protest action at the Mejestik roundabout in the North Sumatra city of Medan opposing the April 9 legislative elections.

Indonesia
Detik.com – April 2, 2009

Khairul Ikhwan, Medan – Some 50 or so students in the North Sumatra city of Medan demonstrated on April 2 against the general elections that will take place on April 9. The group said that students believe that the elections will not bring about change or resolve the problems of the ordinary people.

March 2009

Indonesia
Detik.com – March 31, 2009

Muhammad Nur Abdurrahman, Makassar – On March 31 the Concern for the Nation Functional Party (PKPB) held an election campaign rally in the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar. Speaking before around one thousand sympathisers, PKPB General Chairperson R. Hartono promised the rebirth of former President Suharto’s New Order regime.

Indonesia
Tempo Interactive – March 30, 2009

Palu – On March 30, activists from the Palu City branch of the Union for the Politics of the Poor (PPRM) in Central Sulawesi encouraged local residents to reject next month’s legislative elections.

Indonesia
Detik.com – March 30, 2009

Robert, Samarinda – Scores for students from the Mulawarman University in East Kalimantan provincial city of Samarinda demonstrated on March 30 against the 2009 general elections. During the action they destroyed or set fire to posters, banners and other promotional material belonging to legislative candidates.