At The Bogor Palace, Jokowi Meets Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, At The Jakarta Palace Students Fail To Meet Him

Demonstration mass rejects Labor Copyright Act (Muhammad Iqbal / VOI)

JAKARTA - Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will visit Indonesia on October 20-21. Two countries hope that there will be a significant impact from this meeting. Behind this agenda, mass demonstrations in Jakarta urged Jokowi's response regarding the Perppu Omnibus Law on the Job Creation Law.

This hope was expressed by Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in a telephone conversation, Monday, October 19. There are strategic goals that are expected to be achieved in bilateral relations between the two countries.

"Foreign Minister Motegi hopes that the Prime Minister's visit will be meaningful so that bilateral relations (with Indonesia), which is a strategic partner, will strengthen," said the Japanese Embassy in Jakarta, in a written statement received on Tuesday, October 20.

Suga has just been appointed as the successor to Shinzo Abe, who several months ago resigned as prime minister due to illness. And Suga chose Indonesia and Vietnam on his first visit.

Retno, representing President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), said he welcomed PM Suga's visit to Indonesia. Jokowi, said Retno, is also looking forward to the bilateral meeting which will be held today at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java.

PM Suga is scheduled to land at Soekarno Hatta International Airport Tuesday afternoon and arrive at Bogor Palace in the afternoon. PM Suga, who is accompanied by his wife Mariko Suga, plans to attend a welcoming ceremony and participate in tree planting activities at the Bogor Palace.

Suga and Jokowi's meeting is scheduled for the evening. In the same place, he may also meet Japanese businessmen and Japanese alumni associations in Indonesia. Tomorrow, before leaving for Tokyo Suga is scheduled to visit the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery, Jakarta.

Pressure from Jakarta

The existence of Jokowi has actually come under pressure from Jakarta. Demonstrators protest against the Omnibus Law of the Job Creation Law questioning Jokowi's attitude towards Bogor when the crowd wanted to meet him at the State Palace in Jakarta.

In today's action, the Indonesian Student Executive Board (BEM SI) teased Jokowi. "We want to meet with Jokowi, let him issue a Perppu. But, the President is in Bogor, friends," said the orator, Alif on a command car in the area of the Arjuna Wiwaha Horse Statue, Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, Central Jakarta.

In fact, said Alif, the arrival of BEM SI wanted to meet with President Jokowi to convey their aspirations, namely asking Jokowi to issue a Perppu on the Job Creation Law. Alif also insinuated Jokowi who was reluctant to meet the people and preferred to be at the Bogor Palace rather than meeting students who took action in the hot sun.

He said that President Jokowi chose comfort because he went to the Bogor Palace. Because, there are no demonstrations and the weather is cold.

"In his mind, 'lazy, ah,' hot with students. It is better in Bogor to be cold. The palace in front of us is empty, my friend," he said, greeted by calls from other student action participants.

Follow the progress of the demonstration against the Omnibus Law of the Job Creation Law through the VOI Twitter report.

12:44 WIB - Today, a series of demonstrations against the Omnibus Law on Job Creation began again from different circles of society every day. Like the current situation at the Horse Statue, the masses have also begun to arrive. (Doc. Diah Ayu Wardani / VOI) pic.twitter.com/97FBxXIMHR

- voi.id (@voidotid) October 20, 2020