Anxiety about demonstrations goes up

October 31, 2016, 11.21 AM  | Reporter: Handoyo, Herlina KD, Teodosius Domina
Anxiety about demonstrations goes up


JAKARTA. The domestic political temperature goes up as the escalation of mass demonstrations during the recent times. The rising political tension has led to unease in businessmen and investors. Let alone, police has set the alert status in responding to the recent political situation.

Businessmen and investors have concern over two massive actions, which will be held in the immediate time. First, the mass action that will be organized by some mass organizations in Jakarta, Friday (4/11), demanding police to settle the alleged blasphemy committed by the Governor of Jakarta Basuki Tjahaja Purnama or Ahok.

The second action is the labors demonstration about the issue of 2017 provincial minimum wages. The action will also be conducted on Friday (4/11). “So far 1,000 people have confirmed to join the demonstration. The number could be more,” said the President of Indonesian Labor Unions Association (Aspek) Mirah Sumirat on Sunday (30/10).

Need to be alert

General Chairman of Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) Hariyadi Sukamdani said that the entrepreneurs have anticipated the likelihood of interruptions in production and logistic delivery. However, he expects that government and security forces can anticipate the demonstrations.

Executive Director of the Association of Indonesian Flour Entrepreneurs (Aptindo) Ratna Sari Loppies expects that the police will have a firm stance over the security situation. “Do not let such actions deteriorate economic condition”, she said.

Meanwhile, Vice Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Retail Companies (Aprindo) Tutum Rahanta said “Entrepreneurs and public need a safe condition. We believe that the state can protect the security,” Tutum said.

Economist at Samuel Asset Manajemen Lana Soelistyaningsih warned that the massive demonstrations are unacceptable, even though the investors and businessmen already get used to hear about demonstration issues. In this case, the investors and businessmen may think of shifting the dependences on manpower to industrial machines, which have much lower risks. “This will deteriorate Indonesia’s credibility in the eyes of the investors,” Lana said.

Observer of the Association of Indonesia Economy and Politics (AEPI) Salamuddin Daeng estimated that the current demonstrations are the accumulation of economic depreciations. The government has to anticipate and control such actions thoroughly, as “The escalation of the problems will worsen the domestic economy,” he said.

(Muhammad Farid/Translator)

Cek Berita dan Artikel yang lain di Google News

Editor: Barratut Taqiyyah Rafie
Tag

Latest News