Central Jakarta Green Spaces Damaged Most During Anti-Job Creation Law Rallies

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Green spaces around the Arjuna Wiwaha Monument, also known as the Horse Statue, in Central Jakarta have suffered the most damage following the mass anti-job creation law protests on Tuesday (October 13, 2020), an official has said.

“Green spaces saw the most damage as they were stepped on, although they were not as bad as they were last week. We also found a lot of garbage. Our personnel have worked all night as we have to ensure that everything is taken care of before the sun rises,” Head of the Central Jakarta Park and Forestry Agency Mila Ananda confirmed on Wednesday.

Aside from the area around the monument, green spaces in other locations visited by the protestors have also suffered damage, she said.

"The most damage on green spaces has been seen not only in the Arjuna Wiwaha Horse Statue area, but also on Budi Kemuliaan street, Wahid Hasyim street in Tanah Abang, in Kramat, Cikini, Kebon Sirih, and the areas passed by the rally masses," she informed.

She said damaged plants in the green areas will soon be replaced with cuttings planted by the Central Jakarta City Parks and Forestry Agency.

"There are many varieties of damaged plants. There were daffodils, jasmine, costus, and many others. We (will) fix them all from cuttings in the neighborhood," Ananda said.

Ananda said officers from provincial and city agencies in other areas have been called in to help restore the green spaces till conditions improve.

“We have a lot of help around (the) Medan Merdeka Barat (area). From Central Jakarta, we dispatched 85 officers, (officials) from the provincial agency and other city administrations are helping as well. Everyone is helping Central Jakarta to return to its arrangement," she said.

Read also: Anies Baswedan to Establish Green Spaces after Capital City Move

ANTARA