N. Priharwanto, Jakarta – Thousands of workers from the Jabotabek industrial zone gathered on the grounds of the University of Indonesia campus in Salemba, Central Jakarta on Saturday (May 1). They came to commemorate May Day and hold a demonstration.

At 3.30pm the commemoration began with the singing of the Workers' marching song with the left had raised in a fist. As the agenda was begun masses of workers could be seen still arriving, most arriving by public transport such as buses.

The workers had begun entering the campus grounds since 2pm and the group initially only totaled around 200 workers. However as time went by the number of workers continued to increase and by 3pm the total had reached more than a thousand people.

After the workers had gathered the atmosphere was full of colour. There was a group which brought a banner with the writing "Free Dita Sari and Free [all] Political Prisoners", their shouts echoed across Jakarta.

While the workers were concentrated on the campus grounds, security forces formed a cordon around the campus. More that one hundred anti-riot troops could be seen guarding [the campus].

[Translated by James Balowski]