Rizal Adhi Pratama, Malang – Hundreds of people dressed in black held a demonstration to coincide with Youth Pledge Day on Wednesday October 28 at the Malang city Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD) offices.
Even though East Java city has been inundated by heavy rain since noon, the masses still took action at 3 pm amidst the pouring rain. The action was a response to various issues during the two years of the administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
One of the demonstrators, Wahyudi, said that the Indonesian economy was not doing well at all because the prices of basic commodities were soaring. This has been exacerbated by the scarcity of subsidised fuel (BBM), but the people are still burdened with expensive tax bills, education and health costs.
"We demand decent and quality jobs, wages increases, eliminate the contract system and outsourcing. Provide land, capital and technology to farmers, fishers and the urban poor", he explained.
He also saw that the economic downturn was caused by wasting the state budget (APBN) on unclear programs. Therefore, they also demanded an evaluation of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) program and to halt the Red and White Village Cooperatives (KDMP) program.
Wahyu also sees that the forest and land fires (karhutla) have caused losses and casualties. But the government doesn't seem serious about dealing with forest and land fires that are occurring in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Java and Papua.
"We also demand that the government declare karhutla a national disaster. At the same time, recover victims, revoke permits and sanction companies", he explained.
Furthermore, the protesters also demanded that the government return the military to the barracks and the disbandment of the Infantry Territorial Development Battalions (Yon TP), as well as prosecuting serious human rights violators.
"We also call on all Indonesian people to build people's resistance committees so that they can continue to fight oppression and seize power", he concluded.
Notes
On October 28, 1928, Indonesian students and youth gathered in Jakarta to declare the Youth Pledge – generally accepted as the first open declaration of Indonesian independence – which called for a united independent Indonesia under the theme of "One Nation, One People, One Language". It was the first time that a substantial body of anti-colonial activists committed themselves to an independent united nation with Malay as the national language.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Meski Diguyur Hujan, Ratusan Orang Tetap Berdemo di Kantor DPRD Malang".]
