DEMONSTRATIONS OFFER INCOME OPPORTUNITY TO THE UNEMPLOYED IN JAKARTA

Ahmad Fuad Yahya

JAKARTA, Sept 1 (Bernama) -- The business of supplying demonstrators in this
large city has become an extraordinary trade that offers the unemployed an
income and at the same time gain knowledge on how to demonstrate in an orderly
manner.

Any group requiring people to stage a demonstration can make an order for a
complete package, namely trained demonstrators, transport, orators, sound
system, banners and demonstration statements.

The package offered by an organisation supplying trained demonstrators here is
calculated based on the payment for a small bus that can take between 30 and 35
demonstrators, which is between Rp1.5 million (about RM522) and Rp2 million
(RM696). (US$1=RM3.14)

For a demonstration, each participant is paid between Rp30,000 (RM10.45) and
Rp40,000 (RM13.90) and a packed meal.

One of the operators of such a service, Aji Kusuma said the package offered by
him comprises trained demonstrators, however, there are others who offer paid
but untrained demonstrators, besides undergraduates as demonstrators.

"Participants of the demonstrations are youths from the city, usually they're
unemployed. We invite them, try to train them so that they will understand the
issues that they are demonstrating against.

"Usually if we want to stage a particular demonstration, we will have
discussions several days before the demonstration day. We discuss why we are
staging the demonstration, so that when the participants are asked by others,
they will know how to respond," he said.

Usually, the inputs for the briefing on the demonstration are obtained from the
party seeking the service of the demonstrators.

Aji said his organisation has between 20 and 30 participants in each village in
all the mukim (district) in Jakarta, and the demonstrators would be gathered
whenever there is an order for demonstration package.

The largest number or demonstrators he had gathered for a job was 3,000 who were
transported using 90 mini buses.

Aji said his demonstrators are not involved in demonstrations sponsored by
non-governmental organisations (NGOs) including the one held in front of the
Malaysian Embassy recently because they choose not to stage demonstrations
during the fasting month.

The demonstrators from his organisation are also trained on how to take care of
themselves in chaotic situations, but they bear the risk themselves if they are
caught by the police.

"They bear the risk. Some of them have been jailed but they are proud because
they are demonstrating against corruption," he cited an example.

For participants who are held in jail, the organisation will visit them once a
week to find out about their welfare, he added.
-- BERNAMA