Demonstrations are fun! (If you're not the one with demands)
Today I had to go to the Jkt Stock Exchange Building, after postponing for a week due to recurring demonstrations, hooliganisms etc. I didn't know there would be a demonstration today (wouldn't have gone had I known), but the building apparently hosts the offices of Nike (the shoe maker) and today the laborers were at it again.
Anyway, I knew something was up when the first taxi I hailed, as I got into the city at noon, asked where I was heading. He agreed to take me as close as possible to the JSE Building, through the back. We found the street heading off the the CBD cordoned off by the police. I crossed the police line and hailed an ojek, we got through close to the Building until we face another police line. The ojek driver casually said 'wartawan' ('the press') before I even open my mouth. The police opened a bit of space and off we go. When I questioned the driver he was like, "Oh I do this all the time". Come to think of it, he was more formally dressed than the usual ojek driver (and I, well, if you know me, the slightly dishevelled look I portray most of the time could pass as reporter chic).
The laborers had gathered and there was a wall of anti-riot police which I had to pass to get into the building. Once inside, took me about 15 minutes to do my business, and I was off again to my next destination. But by this time the demonstrators were gathered thick on the street and pavement. I decided to try to pass, slowly and with utmost politeness. Most of the demonstrators were women, obviously since they make up a large contingent of the labor force in the footwear and garment industry.
Inching my way forward towards the main thoroughfare (Jalan Sudirman), a few minutes later I felt someone hanging on to my arm from behind. I looked back and there's a slim lady in headscarf meeting my glance, and urging me to go on, "Ayo Mbak, hati-hati!" I look behind her and see a guy with backpack hanging off his front, another guy behind him with a document folder, another behind him.....and I realize, holy cow, I have the whole circus behind me!!
Off I go again, fully realizing I am a full head taller and much bigger than most of the sea of people around me, yet am wary that a wrong move (a toe crushed here, a slight bumping there) and a lynching may not be far behind. Well, I'm over reacting I know, but still....
The yelling is now rythmic and fun, and if it weren't for the gentle prodding on my arm I would've just stopped and enjoyed the show. But onwards! Especially since at one point a girl jokingly called out "Awas ada artis lewat!" and quickly a small path was cleared for me. (My look for the Jkt pavement, with shades on or on top of head to ward off the dust, also have its hint of the almost famous, hahaha).
Anyway, it was fun and reminds me of the time between 1998-1999 when I worked at another building very close to Semanggi where we had front row seat to the almost-daily demonstrations and mayhem. We regularly joined in the marches and checked out the scenes at Rumah Sakit Jakarta (otherwise known as molotov central).
I hope the Nike situation gets resolved to the benefits of the laborers though, it exasperates me how the factory owner is trying to extract herself from paying severance...
Anyway, I knew something was up when the first taxi I hailed, as I got into the city at noon, asked where I was heading. He agreed to take me as close as possible to the JSE Building, through the back. We found the street heading off the the CBD cordoned off by the police. I crossed the police line and hailed an ojek, we got through close to the Building until we face another police line. The ojek driver casually said 'wartawan' ('the press') before I even open my mouth. The police opened a bit of space and off we go. When I questioned the driver he was like, "Oh I do this all the time". Come to think of it, he was more formally dressed than the usual ojek driver (and I, well, if you know me, the slightly dishevelled look I portray most of the time could pass as reporter chic).
The laborers had gathered and there was a wall of anti-riot police which I had to pass to get into the building. Once inside, took me about 15 minutes to do my business, and I was off again to my next destination. But by this time the demonstrators were gathered thick on the street and pavement. I decided to try to pass, slowly and with utmost politeness. Most of the demonstrators were women, obviously since they make up a large contingent of the labor force in the footwear and garment industry.
Inching my way forward towards the main thoroughfare (Jalan Sudirman), a few minutes later I felt someone hanging on to my arm from behind. I looked back and there's a slim lady in headscarf meeting my glance, and urging me to go on, "Ayo Mbak, hati-hati!" I look behind her and see a guy with backpack hanging off his front, another guy behind him with a document folder, another behind him.....and I realize, holy cow, I have the whole circus behind me!!
Off I go again, fully realizing I am a full head taller and much bigger than most of the sea of people around me, yet am wary that a wrong move (a toe crushed here, a slight bumping there) and a lynching may not be far behind. Well, I'm over reacting I know, but still....
The yelling is now rythmic and fun, and if it weren't for the gentle prodding on my arm I would've just stopped and enjoyed the show. But onwards! Especially since at one point a girl jokingly called out "Awas ada artis lewat!" and quickly a small path was cleared for me. (My look for the Jkt pavement, with shades on or on top of head to ward off the dust, also have its hint of the almost famous, hahaha).
Anyway, it was fun and reminds me of the time between 1998-1999 when I worked at another building very close to Semanggi where we had front row seat to the almost-daily demonstrations and mayhem. We regularly joined in the marches and checked out the scenes at Rumah Sakit Jakarta (otherwise known as molotov central).
I hope the Nike situation gets resolved to the benefits of the laborers though, it exasperates me how the factory owner is trying to extract herself from paying severance...
posted by fantarara at 11:29 PM
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