By: Dina Kahyang Putri )*
As a democratic country, Indonesia allows its people to express opinions. However, lately the demonstrations for the Job Creation Law have become increasingly anarchic, disrupting the comfort of the community. Residents began to have no sympathy for the demonstration because it only caused traffic jams and riots.
Again, students will demonstrate with the excuse that they reject the Job Creation Law. The community is of course strongly opposed to it, because they are always determined to demonstrate during a pandemic. When there is a demonstration, apart from causing traffic jams, it also disturbs the comfort of the community.
Some time ago, a demonstration by Makassar State University (UNM) students on Jalan AP Pettarani, Makassar City ended in clashes. The students who demonstrated against the Job Creation Law closed the access road causing a very long traffic jam.
Clashes eventually occurred between the demonstrators and road users who were annoyed because the students did not disperse until late at night. Seeing this, the police finally took decisive action by forcibly dispersing the demonstrators.
The Head of Ops for the Makassar Police, AKBP Darminto, stated that one demonstrator was arrested by the police. The demonstrators were suspected of being provocateurs who caused chaos between the demonstrators and road users. As of 22.30 WITA, a number of police officers were still on guard in front of the UNM campus. The traffic flow gradually smoothed after the demonstrators were forcibly dispersed by the police.
The community supports the firm’s decisive action because the demonstrators are very detrimental. Apart from creating traffic jams, demonstrations are also detrimental because they create chaos. When there is chaos, the situation will be hot and the demonstrators have the potential to destroy things and burn used tires, and endanger many people.
This demonstration was even scorned and did not get sympathy from the community. Rather than demonstrating while jostling and sweating, isn’t it better to send several student representatives to have an audience with the authorized officials? With peaceful communication, it can be explained what are the reasons for the approval of the Job Creation Bill.
Students should be able to imitate representatives from several trade unions who held a meeting with Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD. Workers were asked for their opinion on this bill and Mahfud explained the important points of the new regulation. This is done to prevent misunderstandings that lead to large-scale demonstrations.
The Job Creation Law which abolished the article regarding limitations on employment contracts does not mean that they only have the status of contract employees for life. This was disclosed by the Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziyah. According to him, if a company continues to contract employees, it will incur a lot of costs. Contract employees who perform well will be appointed as permanent employees.
The abolition of the UMK also does not mean that workers are paid cheaply. Instead, it will be replaced with the provincial minimum wage, which will later be regulated by the Governor. The official is considered to have a better understanding of the needs of the community and can weigh up how much salary is appropriate for an employee. Do not rush to get angry and hold a demonstration.
The community rejects the anarchist student demonstration. According to them, instead of demonstrating, it is better to have good communication. If only demonstrating, even ignored.
The workers’ demonstration also did not get the attention of the public because it was held on a strategic road, so it created a snaking traffic jam. Instead of sympathy, the people complained because they could not have fast mobility, due to being hindered by the demonstrators. They got stuck in a traffic jam and finally gave up because there was a demonstration.
Students should remember that time is money (very valuable). If one person is stuck in traffic for just two hours, how much is wasted because of the demonstration? He could potentially be scolded by the boss in his office, even though it wasn’t his fault to get stuck in traffic during the demonstration. School children will also be late for school. All because of the demonstrators.
Apart from that, labor demonstrations tend not to bring any solution. They only dwell on the problem, namely the increase in salary which they feel is lacking. They ended up cursing the government, even though so far it was the government that had been kind enough to provide social assistance and other assistance during a pandemic. It feels like milk is reciprocated with tuba water.
Supposedly if there is a problem, then what is important is the solution, not prolonging the problem. The sarcasm in the demonstrations also made people hate the demonstrations even more. They were tired of hearing harsh words from the demonstrators. Do not burn emotions but prioritize logic. Sarcasm, which leads to an inability to control it, can trigger chaos (anarchy) and make the atmosphere hot because there are fights.
If there is anarchist action, the community will suffer the most. First, public facilities have the potential to be damaged by the demonstrators, so they cannot be used. Second, when there is a riot there is fear of looting, so that the common people cry. Third, the safety of people’s lives is also threatened.
The Job Creation Law demonstration disrupts the comfort of the community. Hence just discontinue the demo plan or its extension. It’s no use at all, because you can’t get sympathy from the community. The community is also expected to be able to channel their aspirations through the available legal channels.
)* The author is a contributor to Persada Institute
