Jakarta – The National Association of University Student Executive Bodies (BEM-SI) conducted a rally in Jakarta on Sunday to protest the resumption of the Jakarta Bay reclamation projects following a decision by the government to proceed with the controversial development plan.

BEM-SI members from University of Indonesia, Jakarta State University, Jakarta State Polytechnic and several others protested at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle during a car free day event.

The protest was designed to inform people about the Jakarta Bay reclamation projects, said Ihsan Munawar, a representative of BEM-SI.

The students believe the ambitious reclamation projects will not deliver positive results for either the local people living in the surrounding area of the Bay or Jakartans more broadly.

"[The administration] claims that reclamation will expand the economy. The economy for whom? The people or the capitalists? Of course it is for the capitalists," he said as quoted by kompas.com.

Local people, especially fishermen, have complained about the possibility of losing their livelihoods and incomes due to the development of the man-made islets.

The construction of the islets will only benefit the capitalists as they will gain a fortune by constructing buildings on the islets, Ihsan said.

Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said on Friday the government had decided to allow the reclamation projects to continue, including the halted islet G project.

Luhut argued that based on further evaluation and discussion in his ministry, the projects should proceed. (rin)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/09/11/students-rally-to-protest-reclamation.html