Adhfar Aulia Syuhada, Jakarta – Online motorcycle taxi drivers (ojol) held a demonstration in front of the United States Embassy in Central Jakarta today where they demanded that the US release Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
"Yes, one of our demands is to free Maduro", said Indonesian Online Motorcycle Taxi Association (O2) Chairperson Cecep Saripudin in front of the US Embassy on Wednesday January 14.
Saripudin also demanded that the US stop its aggression against Venezuela. He believes Venezuela should have the freedom to practice democracy.
"Venezuela is a country that should have freedom under democracy, the freedom to govern its affairs. America as a symbol of a democratic country today is nonsense because in fact today America all international laws have been violated by America", he said.
Saripudin is asking the Indonesian government to condemn the US. He emphasised that Venezuela is a sovereign nation.
"One of the things we're asking the government today is to provide one thing, what, condemn America's actions against Venezuela, because Venezuela today is a country that is democratic, a country that is sovereign", he said.
Aside from this, Saripudin is asking President Prabowo Subianto to immediately issue a Presidential Regulation (Perpres) on online motorcycle taxis (ojol). He urged the government to address the welfare of online motorcycle taxi drivers.
"Today we're here to ask the President to immediately issue a Perpres because right now, to this day, online ojek comrades are suffering tremendously. The [online platform commission] cuts are extraordinary", said Saripudin.
"So we're asking the government to intervene in the welfare of online ojek comrades by issuing a regulation or what's called a Perpres", he continued.
Due to the online motorcycle taxi driver demonstration in front of the US Embassy today, Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan towards Jalan MH Thamrin was closed off.
According to detikcom's monitoring at the location on Wednesday at 11.50 am, Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan was closed to motorised vehicles. The closure was in effect in both directions, from the Horse Statue and the Farmer's Monument. (maa/maa)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Demo di Kedubes AS, Massa Ojol Tuntut Bebaskan Presiden Venezuela Maduro".]
