'Violence is never far away from us'

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Tue, 05/09/2006 12:00 PM  |  Jakarta

City residents are frustrated by the traffic jams caused by rallies and uneasy about the violence they have come to associate with mass gatherings. What can the unions, the government and employers do to ensure future protests are peaceful? The Jakarta Post asked some people for their thoughts on the issue.

Anang Ugianto, 28, is an engineer at a Japan-based manufacturing company. He lives in Ciganjur, South Jakarta:

I don't really think the protest was driven by political interests.

The fact that it turned violent in the second phase shows it was a case of bottled up anger -- that people really do believe any revision to the Labor Law risks their jobs.

I think the fact that laborers -- who were only voicing their concerns -- were blamed for the violence, is a major setback. It is not hard to imagine they were provoked and used by a third party.

That may be right in part, but the fact they are fighting for the right to make enough money to live on, in a city where the cost of living is high, is the main reason why the protesters were so emotional.

Duniati, 32, is a mother of two who lives in Cipinang, East Jakarta:

Over the years, Jakartans have been traumatized by protests. The most recent labor protest was a reminder that violence is never far away.

But, whatever the reason, violence should not be tolerated.

I do not think massive demonstrations are the right approach. Factory work was suspended and people were worried the rally would deteriorate into another riot.

While there are other channels open -- like confronting the issue through words -- workers should take another approach.

--The Jakarta Post

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