Jakarta governor to take protesters' demand to repeal labour law to President Widodo
10 October, 2020
The governor of Indonesia's capital on Friday (Oct 9) said he'd inform President Joko Widodo of protesters' demand for a polarising new labour law to be repealed, as a growing number of regional leaders oppose the brand new legislation.
Thousands took to the streets of cities across Indonesia during the past three days, part of protests and national strikes against a law they say undermines labour rights and weakens environmental protections.
Clashes erupted in a few cities, including in Jakarta where protesters burnt public transport facilities and damaged police posts.
"Yesterday I also met with the protesters and we'd brief discussion with them, I'd told them that people had listened to your voices and I'll convey the message," Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan told Reuters. He didn't go so far as saying he would join the call for regulations to be repealed.
At least four other governors have told protesters they might write to the president requesting regulations to be cancelled, according to their statements and local media reports.
Repealing regulations would prevent further clashes "that could create prolong instability amid a pandemic and an monetary recession", West Kalimantan Govenor Sutarmidji said in a statement.
The president has yet to create any public statement following Monday's passing of the jobs bill into law, but his ministers have defended it, saying protests were triggered by false news and that the legislation would improve people's welfare by welcoming more investment.
Jakarta police on Thursday detained about 1,000 demonstrators, while hundreds were arrested in other cities.
The majority of those detained were released by Friday morning, Jakarta police spokesman Yusri Yunus said.
Police didn't expect a fourth day of protests in the capital on Friday, he said.
Said Iqbal, president of trade union KSPI, among the largest group behind the protests, said there no was planned rally for Friday, but another labour leader on Thursday evening pledged to keep demonstrating.
Jakarta resident Nathan Tarigan feared clashes would escalate.
"I'm afraid if the government and stakeholders of the state aren't wise, don't want to listen, something bigger can occur and the state can break," the 50-year-old said.
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