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Security personnel prepare for May Day
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Thousands of workers crowd Jl. M. H. Thamrin and its surrounding areas in Central Jakarta during the commemoration of May Day in 2014. (kompas.com/-)
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bout 17,000 security officers will be deployed to secure the commemoration of International Labor Day, or May Day, this coming Sunday, the same day when residents of Jakarta and its neighboring cities enjoy Car Free Day (CFD) on Jl. M.H. Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman.
“To secure the day, we will deploy officers from the military, the police and the Jakarta Transportation Agency,” said Jakarta Police deputy chief Brig. Gen. Nanang Jumantara on Friday as quoted by kompas.com.
The officers will be placed at crucial points in the city including roads near the State Palace, National Monument (Monas), Bung Karno Sports Stadium and the House of Representatives, he said.
“We will escort them [the laborers] to the places where they will gather. They are likely to start rallying around 8 a.m.,” said Nanang, adding that the police would also prepare parking facilities for laborers who want to take part in the May Day parades.
The laborers have been asked to park their vehicles at the Monas parking facility, Banteng field, the grounds of the Istiqlal Mosque and Senayan’s eastern parking facility.
Nanang stressed that the laborers would not be allowed to drive their vehicles along Jl. M.H. Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman because of CFD, a day on which thousands of people enjoy outdoor activities on the city’s main thoroughfares.
“Even police personnel are not allowed to take their vehicles. Only Transjakarta buses are allowed to pass through,” he said, adding that CFD would take place as per usual.
“Residents do not need to worry. They can still enjoy CFD and the laborers can express their aspirations. Both of these things can take place,” he added.
Trade union leaders have announced that some 50,600 laborers will take part in May Day this year. They will come from cities in West Java such as Bandung, Bogor, Cirebon, Bekasi, Kerawang, Subang, Purwakarta and Depok, as well as from cities in Banten such as Cilegon, Tangerang and South Tangerang.
Nanang said the police had met with labor representatives to discuss May Day.
Citing a gubernatorial regulation, Nanang told the trade union leaders to focus their activities around three locations, namely Senayan’s eastern parking facility, the House complex and Monas. (bbn)
