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Jakarta Protesters Trot Out Water Buffalo
Anti-government demonstrators brought a water buffalo to Jakarta's Hotel Indonesia traffic circle on Thursday morning.
"This is the symbol of our leader," Welly, the group coordinator said. "Our leader is like a buffalo, lazy, very easy to get annoyed, and stupid."
The group planned to walk the buffalo around the fountain at the center of the circle, but the police stopped them.
Protesters demanded that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono step down because of the Bank Century bailout scandal.
"The Century case proves that the government cannot manage this country and this economy," said one. "The government is never on the citizens' side."
The rally begun at around 8.30 a.m as several groups arrived at the traffic circle to march to the Presidential Palace.
Student and labor organizations sent members to the protest.
Rudi Daman, coordinator of the Front for People's Struggle, said that of the 15 priority programs identified by the government in its first 100 days in office, none dealt with labor issues.
"Layoffs are everywhere, and there is still no solid protection for our migrant workers," he said.
Protesters said the water buffalo symbolized President Yudhoyono. (JG Photo/Anita Rachman)
Anti-government demonstrators brought a water buffalo to Jakarta's Hotel Indonesia traffic circle on Thursday morning.
"This is the symbol of our leader," Welly, the group coordinator said. "Our leader is like a buffalo, lazy, very easy to get annoyed, and stupid."
The group planned to walk the buffalo around the fountain at the center of the circle, but the police stopped them.
Protesters demanded that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono step down because of the Bank Century bailout scandal.
"The Century case proves that the government cannot manage this country and this economy," said one. "The government is never on the citizens' side."
The rally begun at around 8.30 a.m as several groups arrived at the traffic circle to march to the Presidential Palace.
Student and labor organizations sent members to the protest.
Rudi Daman, coordinator of the Front for People's Struggle, said that of the 15 priority programs identified by the government in its first 100 days in office, none dealt with labor issues.
"Layoffs are everywhere, and there is still no solid protection for our migrant workers," he said.
Protesters said the water buffalo symbolized President Yudhoyono. (JG Photo/Anita Rachman)
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