Chaotic Demonstration Rejects The Job Creation Law, Burned Police Posts And Transjakarta Bus Stops

Photo: Sadam / VOI

JAKARTA - Demonstrations against the ratification of the Job Creation Law have ended in chaos. Hundreds of people were arrested and several public facilities were damaged.

Based on police records, around 450 people have been detained for two days since October 7. They are said to be members of the anarcho group.

Head of Public Relations of Polda Metro Jaya, Kombes Yusri Yunus, said the hundreds of people were arrested in three different areas, namely West Jakarta, Central Jakarta and South Jakarta.

Most of them are students and unemployed. However, regarding the total number of minors and unemployed children who are secured, it cannot be conveyed.

"There are indications that anarcho are not people who want to demonstrate, they are unemployed people we secure," said Yusri, Thursday, October 8.

The police also arrested dozens of people this morning. They were secured when they gathered in Palmerah, Pancoran, and around the DPR building.

Director of the Traffic Directorate of Polda Metro Jaya, Kombes Sambodo Purnomo Yogo said, most of the dozens who were secured were minors.

"Since dawn we have arrested approximately 40 children. Including those arrested today, approximately 30 are secured under the flyover," said Sambodo.

Even from the examination, some of them came from outside Jakarta. They came to Jakarta because they felt drawn from messages circulating on social media.

"Some are from Serang, Tangerang, Bogor, Bandung, some are from Jakarta itself. So from outside the city, when they come to Jakarta, the destination is not clear either," said Sambodo.

Destruction of Public Facilities

Demonstrations against the Job Creation Law led to chaos and destruction by the masses. One of the targets for vandalism was the police post at Monas, which is near the Ministry of Defense (Kemenhan) building.

The crowd who had been involved in clashes with the police. The demonstrators tried to approach the Palace but were stopped by the police.

Until finally, the police post at Monas was burned by the masses. I don't know who started it, but the fire broke out quickly and burned the police station. The demonstrators even burned down the road divider in the middle of the road.

Likewise, the police post for the Arjuna Wijaya Horse Statue at Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, Jakarta was also targeted. The protesters set fire to the police post.

Vandalism also took place at the ESDM Building, on Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan, Central Jakarta. The glass of the building was smashed, about 9 parked cars were not spared the vandalism.

Based on information from the security guard at the ESDM Ministry building, 30 people entered and carried out the vandalism. Just then, the frightened officers and security guards fled and sought shelter towards the back of the building.

"Several bags containing laptops and jackets were taken, two computers in the lobby of the ESDM building were taken, the rest were still being recorded," said security guard Asnawi at the location.

Another target of destruction is the TransJakarta Bundaran HI bus stop. The crowd set fire to the bus stop. The burning of a bus stop located on Jalan MH Thamrin, Central Jakarta took place at around 17:34 WIB.