Maulani Mulianingsih, Jakarta – The online motorcycle (ojol) and taxi driver community held a demonstration at the Horse Statue in front of the southwest entrance to the National Monument (Monas) on Tuesday May 20.
At 12 noon Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan had been closed off by police and enforced from the direction of Gambir to the Horse Statue. Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan towards Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat was blocked by police officers and a black blockade fence was installed stretching along the length of Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan.
The protesting online drivers gathered not far from Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan with the first group arriving with a command vehicle at 11.30 am. Another group arrived at 12.49 pm, also with a command vehicle resulting in two vehicles at the Horse Statue demonstration.
From the top of the command vehicles, representatives of the ojol alliance took turns to give speeches representing their respective regions.
As has been reported, the action in Jakarta is to be held at three points, starting from the Horse Statue, then south to the Hotel Indonesia (HI) traffic circle and ending at the parliamentary building. Previously, the Metro Jaya Regional Police appealed to the public to find alternative routes.
"Avoid the Monas area, the HI traffic circle, the Ministry of Transport, and the parliament building during the demonstration. We ask the public to find alternative routes", said Metro Jaya Regional Police public relations head Senior Commissioner Ary Syam Indradi on Tuesday.
Refuse to take orders
Online motorcycle and taxi drivers said they will refuse to take orders by turning off their ride hailing apps during the demonstration. The Garda Indonesia Motorcycle Taxi Association asked the public not to place orders on Tuesday.
"And there will be a mass paralysis of passenger reservations, food reservations and goods deliveries via the application by turning off the application on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 starting at 00.00 hours to 23.59 hours West Indonesia Time", said Garda Indonesia Motorcycle Taxi Association Chairperson Raden Igun Wicaksono in a statement yesterday.
He said the demonstration was held to demand that the government take a firm stand as a regulator and take action on regulatory violations that have been committed since 2022. He said today's demonstration represented the climax of the drivers' disappointment.
Ojol protesters demands
1. That the President of the Republic of Indonesia and the Minister of Transport impose strict sanctions on app based companies that violate the regulations under Government Regulation/Department of Transport Regulation Number 12/2019 and Department of Transport Decree Number 1001/2022;
2. That the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission V hold a joint public hearing (RDP) with the Ministry of Transport, driver associations and app based companies;
3. Set a maximum application company cut of 10 percent;
4. Revise passenger tariffs (abolish aceng low tariff systems, slots, economy options, priority, and etc); and
5. Set food service and goods delivery rates involving driver associations, regulators, application companies and the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI).
(jbr/jbr)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Massa Ojol Demo di Patung Kuda Bertambah, Jl Medan Merdeka Selatan Ditutup".]