Weekly gallery: The fight continues

Tue, September 1, 2020 / 09:59 am

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People take selfies by a street mural painted on Jl. Keuangan Raya in Cilandak, Jakarta, on Aug. 25. The mural was painted by sixteen painters from the Jakarta Artists Community. JP/Seto Wardhana
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Workers stage a rally in front of the House of Representatives’ complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Aug. 25. They opposed the omnibus bill on job creation and called for the government to do more to prevent mass layoffs during the COVID-19 pandemic. JP/Seto Wardhana
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Health workers conduct COVID-19 rapid tests on teachers at SMP 3 state junior high school in South Tangerang, Banten, on Aug. 27. Authorities held rapid tests for middle school teachers in Ciputat, Tangerang, to trace the spread of COVID-19 and prevent further coronavirus outbreaks in the area. JP/Seto Wardhana
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A farmer attempts to enter the State Palace compound in Central Jakarta on Aug. 26 as dozens of others from Simalingkar and Sei Mencirim in Deli Serdang regency, North Sumatra, stage a rally to implore President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to help them regain their land, which they claim was seized by state-owned plantation company PTPN II. JP/Dhoni Setiawan
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A woman collects a package of staple food containing rice, instant noodles and vegetables at the Villa Pamulang housing complex, South Tangerang, Banten, on Friday. Residents of the housing complex collect funds to buy 150 to 200 packs of food every Friday to be distributed to their neighbors in need. JP/Dhoni Setiawan
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Officers from the Cilandak subdistrict office in South Jakarta carry a fake coffin around the area on Aug. 28 to encourage residents to follow health protocols and stay at home. JP/Dhoni Setiawan
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The remains of the main building in the Attorney General’s Office compound in South Jakarta continues to smolder on Aug. 25 after it was gutted by a fire the night before. The Jakarta Police have questioned 105 witnesses to determine the cause of the fire. JP/Wendra Ajistyatama
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Activists from the Indonesian Migrant Workers Union (SBMI) and Greenpeace Indonesia line up a series of mock-up grave markers in front of the State Palace in Jakarta on Aug. 27. They demanded the government pass a regulation on the protection of Indonesian crewmen (ABK) amid an increase in cases of mistreatment and violence against Indonesian crewmen working on foreign fishing vessels. JP/Wendra Ajistyatama

Indonesia recorded daily highs in new COVID-19 cases on three consecutive days last week. This culminated on Aug. 29, when the country confirmed 3,308 new cases, bringing the national tally to 169,195 confirmed cases.

Jakarta, the initial epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the country, recorded the highest number of new cases with 861.

It remains unclear whether the surge in infections resulted from the recent long weekends or from increased testing. Nevertheless, the record high in COVID-19 cases is a somber reminder for the public to stay home and follow health protocols.

Meanwhile, more workers are facing potential mass layoffs, as companies fail to cope with the economic pressures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Some workers have taken to the streets to demand the House of Representatives do more to prevent further job losses.

The COVID-19 crisis aside, some people are facing other crises that threaten their livelihoods and safety. Farmers from Deli Serdang, North Sumatra, staged a rally in front of the State Palace in Jakarta, demanding President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo return their lands that were seized by a state-owned company.

Also in front of the State Palace, activists called on the government to pass a regulation on the protection of Indonesian crewmen. In the past several months, there have been a number of cases of mistreatment and violence against Indonesia crewmen aboard foreign fishing vessels, with some cases resulting in deaths. (dio)