Governor Says Monas to Get Its Own Demonstration Corner

The Jakarta Globe, Ulma Haryanto

A man enjoys watches the sun set over Jakarta at the National Monument in Central Jakarta. (Photo: Fanny Octavianus, Antara)

The days of demonstrators converging on the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle are numbered.

The Jakarta administration said it would soon designate an area in National Monument (Monas) Park where protesters could convene and hold rallies.

Governor Fauzi Bowo said the convergence of people at the famous traffic circle was causing damage to the structure, particularly the fountain.

“People who come together [at the traffic circle] often cause damage to the ornaments in the fountain,” Bowo said, as quoted by state-run news agency Antara on Sunday. “Whether it’s the broken concrete edges that are repeatedly stamped on by people or the water spouts that have been clogged by garbage.”

Last week, the city administration announced that it was setting aside Rp 2 billion ($212,000) to make over the fountain in time for Christmas.

Activists have long preferred to hold rallies at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, situated on Jalan MH Thamrin, because of the number of people who pass through the area and its proximity to hotels and establishments where foreigners stay and visit.

Hotel Indonesia traffic circle

The planned demonstration area in Monas, located about a kilometer from the traffic circle, will be able to accommodate up to 10,000 people, Fauzi said.

The governor said t he specially designated section would be located at the junction of Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan and Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat.

However, Fauzi did not say when the area would be ready to accommodate demonstrations.

“The entrance gate [to the monument] will be pushed back 50 to 100 meters from its current position,” Fauzi said. “We are also going to set up a stage where demonstrators can speak.”

“Of course protesters need to secure a permit from the police first before going there,” the governor added.

Fauzi’s decision to move protests away from the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle comes on the heels of a rally that was canceled by the governor late last month.

Members of the Anticorruption Civil Society Coalition (Kompak) were scheduled to hold a rally on Nov. 29, a car-free Sunday in the city, but were turned away at the last minute on the order of Fauzi.

Authorities demanded the protesters disperse, accusing them of violating a 2007 bylaw on public order.

Fauzi reportedly said that he would no longer issue permits for personal events at the traffic circle, saying they would be limited to car-free Sundays and sports events.

The governor’s actions drew criticism from activists, experts and even Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi.

According to the governor, however, Monas is just as strategically located as the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle and will be able to attract large crowds, without the attendant property damage.

Related Article:

NGO to invite SBY in corruption rally