Aulia Andri/Swastika & Lyndal Meehan, Jakarta – The People's Democratic Party (PRD) did not just demo on the final day of the annual parliament session in the capital, Jakarta.

In Medan, capital of North Sumatra, the PRD held a joint action with local laborers at the North Sumatra Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD) office. As in Jakarta, they demanded a 100% salary hike for all laborers and the repealing of the Armed Forces' dual function, which allows them a defense as well as a social-political role from the highest to the lowest levels of government.

Beginning at around 10am, around 250 demonstrators 'long marched' from Merdeka field and headed to the Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD) office, a distance of one kilometer, Friday. The march caused a long traffic jam.

Singing as they marched, the demonstrators also carried posters condemning violence against workers. Many demonstrators wore red head bands marked FNPBI-SU (Indonesian National Front for Labour Struggle – North Sumatra). They eventually arrived at the DPRD office and immediately occupied the office's main steps.

From the steps, many speakers addressed the crowds. They sang songs of struggle and waved posters demanding a 100% salary increase for all workers, the repeal of Armed Force's dual function, including the abolition of their allocated seats in the parliament, and an end to violence in labour matters.