4/11, 25/11 and 2/12 anti-Ahok demonstrations

[Scooterindo]

Did you ?

Did I what ?? Stop?? Run someone over ?? Drive through a roadblock ??

No thankfully the streets were pretty much completely deserted bar the odd army truck or water cannon strategically parked up at the more major intersections. The thing I still remember most was all the debris in the roads, placards, bricks and rocks, cans, bottles, bits of clothing, bits of police equipment, the burnt remnants of a fire, broken advertising billboards just laying there in the road, driving over kilometers of this sort of debris strewn all over and along JL Rasuna Said and JL Sudirman that were (almost) totally deserted.
Looking back it seems almost surreal, but at the time it was very frightening to be honest.

 

[Tupai Hitam]

Speaking of students, where are they? Surely they have a say in this.

Several hundred university students on October 20 afternoon/evening staged a demonstration outside the Istana/Monas. To coincide with the anniversary of Jokowi's second year in office. It was an absurd protest, blocking the street (including the should-be-sacred Busway lane). They were demanding Jokowi be sacked for poor leadership. The students thought it was great fun, a cool rebellious lark. All scrupulously organized, as they were bussed in and out -- they weren't showing up in any spontaneous spirit of solidarity. Another case of students being used as pawns.

 

[fastpitch17]

Several hundred university students on October 20 afternoon/evening staged a demonstration outside the Istana/Monas. To coincide with the anniversary of Jokowi's second year in office. It was an absurd protest, blocking the street (including the should-be-sacred Busway lane). They were demanding Jokowi be sacked for poor leadership. The students thought it was great fun, a cool rebellious lark. All scrupulously organized, as they were bussed in and out -- they weren't showing up in any spontaneous spirit of solidarity. Another case of students being used as pawns.

They had the same here at UNILA. Maybe 20 students gathered. Most students just ignored them and went about their business.

 

[nd_eric_77]

Anecdotal report: As of 8:40, Tol-Tomang is "sepi"... Except for an unusually large number of "bus pariwisata" heading eastward... toward central Jakarta. My bicycle ride was quite pleasant this early morning, as I encountered few cars on the road.

 

[gab-rob]

the road to my office today is extremely empty. usually getting out of my apartment would take at least 5 minutes just to get to the intersection. today... less than 30 second.. blessing in disguise ..

 

[fastpitch17]

Lampung is reporting 10 buses of 220 people heading to Jakarta for the riots. Police have mentioned that they will stop and search buses before they reach the ferry to check for weapons and narcotics since this is an easy way to try and transport drugs.

There is also a couple rumors going around that some of the individuals that are heading to Jakarta just plan on staying. Free transportation to Jakarta, meals for a couple days, and some cash in their pockets gives them a head start to squatting. Or actually finding a job.

 

[OomBen]

There is also a couple rumors going around that some of the individuals that are heading to Jakarta just plan on staying. Free transportation to Jakarta, meals for a couple days, and some cash in their pockets gives them a head start to squatting. Or actually finding a job.

Such opportunists! Maybe if there's a protest that's going to happen in Raja Empat, i'll be sure to hop on that ferry and just sort of... let them protest while I enjoy myself.

 

[El_Goretto]

Just read this:

Please take with a huge grain of salt.

Source.

 

[Tupai Hitam]

No thankfully the streets were pretty much completely deserted bar the odd army truck or water cannon strategically parked up at the more major intersections. The thing I still remember most was all the debris in the roads, placards, bricks and rocks, cans, bottles, bits of clothing, bits of police equipment, the burnt remnants of a fire, broken advertising billboards just laying there in the road, driving over kilometers of this sort of debris strewn all over and along JL Rasuna Said and JL Sudirman that were (almost) totally deserted. <br>
Looking back it seems almost surreal, but at the time it was very frightening to be honest.

May 98? I commuted from Central Jakarta to West Jakarta each day, going through/around Roxy and Glodok (in bajajs and on ojeks -- no taxis would do the trip). It was surreal and horrible, all the flames, smoke and looting. But I never felt under threat from rioters, as the looting mobs were so cheerful. Shouts of "hello mister!" as they gleefully pulled everything they could out of shops. Would have been a completely different story had I been of Chinese (or fair Asian) appearance. But in 1998, the white foreigner was not a potential enemy or target -- there were no invasions of Afghanistan/Iraq to stir such sentiments. The big fear of 1998/99 (for me) was that troops might open fire on people, as they had done at Trisakti and twice at Semanggi (the first Semanggi killings were on November 13, just a week before the Ketapang killings).

No doubt. When hearing the stories from my wife or simply watching documentaries, I know it was no joke at all. Anyone watched the documentary War Photographer? A cameraman filmed photographer James Nachtwey in the middle of a mob, pleading for them not to kill a guy with a machete. He was the only one on the streets (and the cameraman), everyone else was too scared.

That was in Ketapang (west of Jl Gajah Mada, Jkt) on November 22, 1998, when Muslim Ambonese (whose leader was from the Pemuda Pancasila Golkar-gangsters-for-hire group) and the newly formed FPI joined forces to attack Christian Ambonese guards of a gambling center (filled with Mickey Mouse poker machines and other slot machines) on Jl Zainul Arifin. Although the attack was part of a protection turf war, the attackers had first set fire to a church, falsely claiming the Christians had burned down a mosque. It was one of FPI's first efforts to chase Christian preman out of Jakarta's gambling/drugs/prostitution centers. Six people were beaten/hacked to death on the streets and another seven were found dead in the gambling place, which the attackers had also set alight. More churches were burned down. The Ketapang killings were subsequently cited as a precursor to the Muslim vs Christian violence in Ambon (which started in January 1999). Despite the terrible unpleasantness of it, there was no sense of threat against Westerners. Things are different now, though the percentage of today's protestors inclined toward attacking Westerners is likely minuscule. But it doesn't take much to incite a mob.

 

[El_Goretto]

And here's the KOMPAS livestream:

 

[jstar]

Raining yet?

 

[Anglian]

Well I don't think anything will kick off until after prayers, hopefully the imam cools things down, but not too hopeful, if the are bent on trouble , trouble they will have

 

[William King]

Any news?

 

[El_Goretto]

Any news?

Not much...

Demo in Makassar, Semarang, Solo, Medan.

Your usual message of love: "Kill Ahok" chants in front of Istiqal

https://twitter.com/kangdede78/status/794409496260984832


And democracy at play with Metro TV and Kompas being kicked out by protesters:

https://twitter.com/solehsolihun/status/794424917638774785

https://twitter.com/Netizen_News/status/794421608534274048

 

[William King]

Thanks for the updates. Has the rain started yet?

 

[Tupai Hitam]

It's impossible, I know, but it would have been cool if the media had just completely ignored the demo. Or treated the protesters with complete contempt and disdain. Don't feed trolls. Just arrest those who threaten violence.

 

[El_Goretto]

First violence:

• A group of FPI members caught destroying a Ahok-Djarot campaign office
• Protesters have forced their way through a security fence at the Presidential Palace (the presidential guard warned earlier today that protesters who force entry into the palace will be met with force)

In the mean time, protesters hang a sign that says "Hang Ahok here".

 

[El_Goretto]

The head of FPI is requesting that Jokowi arrests Ahok immediately or the protesters will not leave the Palace.

 

[fastpitch17]

The State Palace has invited 25 Protesters from various regions into the Palace to negotiate with them. What's to negotiate? Their demand was that Ahok be investigated and that is happening. Of course, now they want him immediately arrested but they have no rights to ask that. If they get any new demand met then the protesters win and that is unfortunate for Indonesia. The President is not at the Palace so it will be with Kalla and that is a man I sure wouldn't trust.

The government better stick with law and the constitution or kiss their countries constitution's ass goodbye.

 

[El_Goretto]

Although to be fair, the protest is so far mostly peaceful. Some provocateurs were handed to the police by protesters.

As the night approaches, I suppose the most moderate protesters will go home, leaving the most fervent ones.

And yes, I don't trust Kalla with this either.