A workers action commemorating International Labour Day or May Day at the House of Representatives (DPR) in Jakarta also demanded the cancelation of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA).

Mursalin Yasland, Bandar Lampung – Hundreds of activists and workers in the Lampung provincial capital of Bandar Lampung took to the city’s street on International Labour Day.

Iman Herdiana, Bandung – Hundreds of students and workers from the People’s Struggle Front (FPR) held a protest action in front of the West Java provincial government offices in Bandung today to commemorate International Labour Day.

Hendra Saputram Banda Aceh – Commemorating International Labour Day, scores of mass media workers in the Acehnese provincial of Banda Aceh held a peaceful action condemning violence against journalists on Sunday.

Febrina Ayu Scottiati, Jakarta – A peaceful commemoration of Labour Day in front of the State Palace in Jakarta became heated after protesters set fire to five tyres at around 12.15pm forcing police to deploy anti-riot troops.

Sukabumi (PRLM) – Hundreds of workers from the Sukabumi regency National Trade Union (SPN) in West Java commemorated International May day at the Sukabumi regional government offices.

Semarang – Hundreds of people from groups such as the National Workers Union (SPN) and the Indonesian People’s United Resistance (PPRI) commemorated International Labour Day (May Day) on Sunday in the Central Java provincial capital of Semarang.

Komhukum (Jakarta) – Thousands of workers are still demonstrating at the State Palace on Jl. Merdeka Barat in Central Jakarta demanding reforms to working conditions.

Rohmat, Denpasar – The commemoration of International Labour Day in Bali was commemorated by a number of different student organisations. Workers however were absent from the protest.

M Hernowo and Anita Yossihara – The Joint Secretariat (Setgab) of political parties supporting the administration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. This was one of the important political “breakthroughs” in 2010, and the controversy surrounding it has continued to this day.

Jakarta – Earlier this month on May 3, mass media workers throughout the world commemorated World Press Freedom Day. Three Indonesian journalist organisations however, in a joint statement last week, said that press freedom in Indonesia is to this day still under threat.

Mega Putra Ratya, Jakarta – Around 200 people from the Indonesian People’s Opposition Front (FOR Indonesia) held an action in which 100 candles were lit at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta to commemorate 17 years since the murder of labour activist Marsinah.

Marsinah was a woman worker who was militant and courageous.

Anung Wendyartaka – To this day there has yet to be any visible sign of a breakthrough in the improvement of workers’ standard of living. On the one hand, the basic rights possessed by the working class are still felt to be inadequate and on the other, workers themselves appear to fail to appreciate their existence.

Jakarta – Thousands of workers from various different labour organisations and alliances arrived in waves at the State Palace on Jl. Merdeka Utara to commemorate May Day on Saturday May 1.

Vivi W – Commemorating May Day, 5,000 workers from the Workers Challenge Alliance (ABM) held a protest action in Jakarta today against the pro-capitalist administration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono (SBY-Boediono), which have consistently brought suffering to the Indonesian working class.

Bagus Kurniawan, Yogyakarta – May Day was also commemorated by hundreds of workers in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta with demands for the abolition of contract labour, wage increases and for May 1 to be designated as a national holiday.

Rohman Taufiq, Surabaya – Students in the Central Java provincial capital of Surabaya enlivened a protest action when they joined workers commemorating May Day on Saturday May 1 in front of the State Grahadi building.

Muchus Budi R., Solo – Hundreds of workers in the Central Java city of Solo commemorated May Day by holding a cultural action and free speech forum, in which they rejected the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) agreement and planned electricity rate hikes.

Abd Azis, Makassar – Scores of students from the United Anti-Global Neoliberalism People’s Movement for a Makassar Revolution (Makassar Revolutionary Gate, GRM) commemorated May Day with a demonstration at the Panakkukang Mall in the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar on Saturday May 1.