Plis Deh Jakarta!

So the statue above is apparently so offensive or something that it has to go, well at least according to FPI, and despite the protests from the artist, I Nyoman Nuarta. The Bekasi mayor has bowed down to pressure and ordered the destruction of the statue within 21 days, citing that it has no permit, among other reasons.

So I suppose we should tear down the Kereta Kencana statue and any other I Nyoman Nuarta work of art (as he always takes inspiration from living things), just because FPI says so.

And this from the group which tried to disband a transsexual rights forum, thinking it was a drag queen show. Bravo! At this rate, they’ll be running the city any time soon.

Today we had the distinguished honor of having no less than 19 rallies and demonstrations around the Jakarta area. So almost all of us had our week’s serving of traffic jams, all within a day, regardless of hour. As many as 5.000 demonstrators showed up at Bunderan HI,  backing up traffic along Sudirman.

Oh, did anybody catch what they were protesting about? I know it’s May Day, usually commemorated by laborers… but…

The police went into fits when 6 people armed with a pickup truck and really big loudspeakers did a demonstration in, where else, Bunderan HI. The demonstration itself was protesting the global crisis and urged the government to protect the working class.

Maybe they’re more concerned about protecting their ears.

Note to demonstrators: I respect your intentions and goals but you really have to find another way to get the message across. Staging something in Bunderan HI just falls on deaf ears these days, and the general public only care on whether the demonstrations will jam traffic or not. Really.

Yep. Premium will go to IDR 5000 and diesel will go to IDR 4800, according to this evening’s press release.

This will be the second lowering of gas prices since December 1st, and probably surprising people filling their tanks for gas tomorrow morning. All the while, compared to when gas prices were at IDR 4500, congestion has actually got worse in Jakarta. What will happen now?

I can imagine SBY in his office signing this edict while saying “in your face” to the people saying December 1st’s price lowering was not enough. I don’t hear the critics now. Demonstrations and social criticism always spring up when something is perceived wrong, but what happens when the government does something right? No-thing.

We’ll never know if the price will go up or down again in the coming months, but since the subsidies have been discontinued, the price will always adjust to global market prices, as it will be evaluated monthly. I can picture now the monthly student demonstrations.

The famed and media favorite FBR caused a ruckus today by demonstrating in front of Senayan City mall, claiming that the land on which Senayan City stands is owned by a bloke within their ranks. Or whatever. Something like that.

Where were these guys when there was nothing on that land? Senayan City has been standing for at least 2 years already, right? My theory is that if they win their claim – to which they are currently not doing anything I’m aware of through proper legal channels (not that I care) – they can gain all the income Senayan City receives from its tenants, and parking.

And what’s the point of the demonstration? It will only make the FBR even much more the media darling.

Yesterday’s aftermath:

• 1 student got hit by a car
• 2 other students wounded
• 16 police wounded
• 2 press members wounded
• 8 damaged cars
• 1 burned car
• property damage at various locations
• thousands of Jakartans caught in traffic, or having to walk home
• combined pollution of the deadlocked traffic jam around Semanggi
• other damage or wounds not yet documented

Dear student protesters, you are fighting a noble cause – yet you fight with no nobility. Yes, you may have the nation’s attention, but you definitely don’t have the nation’s respect.

And to think, by this hour, it will all be forgotten because almost everybody will be waiting for a soccer game played far, far away.

Yang namanya demo di Jakarta udah jamak banget ya… demo masak, demo pembersih lantai, sampai demo kenaikan BBM. Dan demo-demo yang lain, yang sepertinya harus berlokasi di daerah Bunderan HI, depan MPR/DPR, Sudirman/Thamrin, dan sesekali di depan salah satu kedutaan.

Pasti ada aja yang diprotes… kalo protes harga-harga naik, masih OK lah, walaupun sebenernya kan pasar kita udah market-oriented economy, jadi harga-harga sebenarnya ditentukan pasar, bukan pemerintah. Jadi protes ke siapa? Mau balik ke jaman pemerintah ngatur semuanya? Ga mau juga kan. Ada juga protes anti-pornografi dan pornoaksi….. and at the same time, some guy selling tabloids on a side street near the location is selling tabloids which are on the verge of pornography.

There’s also the time where a certain religion-oriented so-called defense front (I think you all know what I’m talking about) mobbed an embassy because said embassy’s country had buildings and murals that offended their religion. Dudes, get a life! Masih banyak yang bisa diurusin selain mendemo sebuah bangunan yang bahkan kita nggak pernah liat.

Dan pasti sekali sebulan mahasiswa turun ke jalan memprotes pemerintah, how bad they are working, bahwa pemerintah harus turun karena harga BBM mau naik atau apalah. With no real solution as to what happens after that.

And the one thing about these demonstrations for all travelling Jakartans – MACET! When’s the last time we even remembered what today’s demonstration was about? It used to make a big statement – now everyone who wants to be heard instantly thinks they should just drag some people to Bunderan HI and bam! National statement, televised.

Whatever the cause, you really need to find some other way to communicate (maybe write a blog, guys?), because it’s just not working anymore. It only makes the city more gridlocked than it already is…

Ujung-ujungnya complain gue cuma satu: demo bikin macet, dan jadinya banyak orang ga peduli juga demonya ngomongin apa.

Plis deh….