Thousands Of Ojol Drivers Protest Peacefully At Monas, Hugging Brimob Members And Greeting TNI Members

JAKARTA - Thousands of online motorcycle taxi (ojol) drivers gathered in the IRTI area of ​​the National Monument (Monas), Medan Merdeka Selatan Street, Central Jakarta. This time, they carried thousands of white and pink roses.

Pinning pink ribbons to the sleeves of their ojol jackets, this group of online drivers from various communities launched a symbolic peaceful protest following a series of demonstrations that ended in clashes between residents and security forces in recent days.

Toward evening, they began walking out of Monas, each holding a rose, to circle part of Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan.

They also unfurled a banner that read, "Spread a million roses of kindness for love and peace in our beloved Indonesia."

At the side of the road, Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and Indonesian National Police (Polri) officers were lined up to receive the flowers the ojol drivers would give them. The officers wore cheerful smiles. This time, they were without the protective vests, helmets, and shields typical of protest security.

"The purpose of today's demonstration isn't actually a demonstration, but we need to clarify that. This is a peaceful demonstration to share roses with the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police (Polri). Our goal is to calm the unrest out there," said Erna, a representative of online motorcycle taxis (ojol) during the peaceful demonstration in the IRTI Monas area, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday, September 2.

Several online motorcycle taxi drivers' hugs were warmly welcomed by the officers. Expressions of "thank you" from the drivers were continuous throughout the flower-giving ceremony along Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan.

Erna admitted that the motorcycle taxi drivers participating in this peaceful demonstration hoped that the rose-giving ceremony would be captured by other motorcycle taxi drivers so they would not be provoked into actions that could escalate into riots.

"We've been urging you from the start. Our fellow motorcycle taxi drivers are not to be provoked by situations created by parties outside who have interests and desires that differ from ours," Erna explained.

After receiving the flowers from each member of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police (Polri), the motorcycle taxi drivers gathered again at the IRTI Monas area. Many of them asked to take photos with the officers, who responded warmly.