Jakarta – The Indonesian Mothers Alliance is urging the authorities to release all the students that are still being detained and to stop repressive actions in handling demonstrations. They conveyed this jointly during a peaceful action at the Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) arts and cultural centre in Central Jakarta on Wednesday evening 'September 10.
The action began with a theatrical lighting of 1,000 candles to commemorate the victims who died in the wave of demonstrations that took place in several cities in Indonesia, including Jakarta, from late August to early September.
This was then followed by speeches and poetry readings by participants, who took turns. The participants also signed the Indonesian Mothers' Appeal.
Alliance representative Nada Arini said the peaceful action was carried out as an expression of concern by the mothers' group in Indonesia regarding the current situation.
"Our motherland is in mourning. All this sorrow is the result of government and parliamentary policies that benefit the elite and fuel socio-political injustice", she told reporters.
Arini said that they also strongly condemn the attitude of the state and the people's representatives who were judged to be ignoring protests by the public.
Instead of listening, she said, the protests were met with violence, resulting in the arrest of students by the state apparatus.
"We are brave because we realise that the fate and future of our children are at stake. Amid this chaos, we mothers cannot remain silent", she said.
On that occasion, the Alliance urged the National Police to release all university and high school students and activists who are still being detained in connection with the demonstrations.
In addition to this, they also asked for an end to violent and repressive practices against demonstrators, especially against demonstrating students.
The Indonesian Mothers Alliance also pushed for programs with large budgets, such as the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, to be postponed. They urged that the funds be reallocated to urgent sectors like education and healthcare.
Finally, they asked Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and all his staff to listen to the demands of the people.
"Implement changes based on the causes of injustice and implement changes in social, economic and political structures to ensure justice and equality", she said.
"Starting now and for the future of the children of the nation conceived by Mother Earth, stop the destruction of the political, legal and economic foundations of Indonesian democracy", she said.
Waves of demonstrations erupted across Indonesia in late August, sparked in part by the House of Representatives (DPR) members' fantastic housing allowances.
Demands escalated after a paramilitary police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) vehicle securing the demonstrations ran over and killed online motorcycle taxi (ojol) driver Affan Kurniawan in Jakarta on the evening of August 28.
Demonstrations also broke out in a number of cities across the country, including small towns from the western to eastern tip of Indonesia.
During a press conference on September 8, Deputy Indonesian Police Chief Commissioner General Dedi Prasetyo, stated that the total number of people arrested during demonstrations on charges of rioting in various regions since the end of August had reached 5,444. As of that date, more than 4,800 had been returned home.
"Of the 5,444 people who were detained, 4,800 have been returned home, leaving 583 who are currently being processed", said Prasetyo.
Prasetyo stated that the hundreds of people still being detained are being intensively questioned in Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang, Surabaya, Makassar and Medan. The detained demonstrators are undergoing assessments by investigators. (tfq/kid)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Aliansi Ibu Indonesia Minta Aparat Setop Represif, Bebaskan Pelajar".]