Jakarta rallies a sign of desperation in the KPK-Police struggle?

Does anyone else smell the same whiff of desperation in the air as Unspun? One would think that there are people in Indonesia who still think that rent-a-crowds would convince the public that public opinion is behind them.

Such people live in a world of their own divorced from reality. Technology has rendered much of the opaque business of gauging public opinion transparent. We all not only would know if the Emperor has no clothes but we can publish it online, and have it amplified by other onliners.

Nine Rallies In Jakarta on Thursday, Traffic Delays Expected

Nine rallies are scheduled for Jakarta on Thursday and will likely cause traffic delays.

According to Jakarta Police’s Traffic Management Center, the first demonstration began at 9 a.m. at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle. A second rally was held outside the Supreme Court building at Jalan Medan Merdeka Utara at the same time.

The State Palace, which is located on the same street as the Supreme Court, will be the site of three rallies that will take place between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Groups of activists will come to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) at 10 a.m. and will march to the Presidential Advisory Board office. A different group of activists will also hold a rally at Hotel Indonesia traffic circle and march to the front of the National Police Headquarters on Jalan Trunojoyo in South Jakarta.

At 10:30 a.m. demonstrators will rally in front of the Chinese Embassy on Jalan Rasuna Said. Later in the afternoon activists will hold a rally at the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights.

There is also a rally planned at the office of the representative of North Maluku on Jalan Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta, and a hunger strike planned at the KPK building.

JG