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Residents enjoy Car Free Day after postelection protests
Despite the riots that recently erupted nearby, residents flocked to the closed Jl. Sudirman and Jl. MH Thamrin on May 26 like they usually do on Car Free Day every Sunday. Many people make use of the no-car rule to exercise by jogging or riding bicycles, while others take pictures on their phones while casually strolling along the streets.
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Residents eat meals sold by street vendors during Car Free Day in the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta on May 5. (Antara/Aprilio Akbar)
S
ome Jakartans returned to the Jl. MH Thamrin area for the weekly Car Free Day event on Sunday morning, including in front of the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) building, which was the main site of postelection protests on Wednesday.
"I came here just like usual. It’s all fine here," said a resident named John in front of the Bawaslu building on Sunday as reported by Antara.
He said the main thoroughfare of Jl. MH Thamrin and the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle were already safe enough so he did not feel worried about going there to work out with his friends, just like on any Sunday.
Kebon Kacang, Central Jakarta resident Odang Hermawan also joined the crowds on Sunday morning to walk around with his family.
"It's safe now, so I come here to walk around. I want to see the latest situation directly as I only saw it on television in the last few days,” he said.
Residents flocked to the closed Jl. Sudirman and Jl. MH Thamrin on May 26 like they usually do on Car Free Day every Sunday. Many people make use of the no-car rule to exercise by jogging or riding bicycles, while others take pictures on their phones while casually strolling along the streets.
Security authorities temporarily closed some parts of Jl. MH Thamrin on Tuesday, particularly in front of Bawaslu building where election protests started and escalated into riots, forcing some buildings in the area to close for safety reasons. (ami)
