Jakarta – An ‘Oligarchy Monster’ octopus occupied the iconic HI Roundabout fountain in Central Jakarta this morning. The ‘Oligarchy Monster’ latched on to three mannequins resembling the political figures who running for the presidency in the 2024 elections.
As the official day for presidential candidates registration starts on October 19, Greenpeace Indonesia calls upon the public to be wary of oligarchs who are behind candidates. #VoteforClimateNotOligarch #ElectionsWithoutOligarchy.
“We also urge the presidential and vice presidential candidates to make a serious and concrete commitment to support the people and break away from the oligarchic agenda. They can show this commitment in the vision and mission documents which will be submitted to the KPU (General Elections Commission of Indonesia). Communities have suffered from the negative impact of corporate and political collusion in Indonesia in recent years, such as the unraveling of democracy and environmental destruction, as well as the seizure of indigenous peoples land,” said Iqbal Damanik, Greenpeace Indonesia Forest Campaigner.
The 2024 elections take place amidst the increasingly real threat of the climate crisis. The United Nations has said that the Earth has entered an era of global boiling. Leaders in public office today and in the future must commit to taking serious, real and ambitious climate action to save the Earth.
On the other hand, elections often provide momentum for oligarchs to perpetuate their influence and power. They ‘invest’ by financing presidential and vice presidential candidates, legislative candidates, regional head candidates, political parties, and even by running in elections.
The interests of the oligarchy are entrenched in the governance of the country and have several times hijacked the law-making processes. The enactment of a series of problematic laws, such as the revision of the Corruption Eradication Commission Law, the Mineral and Coal Law, the Constitutional Court Law and the Job Creation Omnibus Law are proof of this.
Greenpeace Indonesia first raised the ‘Oligarchy Monster’ octopus in a peaceful, non-violent demonstration on October 5 2021, as a symbol to protest the passing of the Job Creation Omnibus Law. For three years, civil society has rejected the Job Creation Omnibus Law in various ways, until most recently, on October 2, the Constitutional Court made the disappointing decision that the regulation was valid.
“The current political and economic situation may make us despair. However, together, we can fight to change the situation. We must challenge the presidential and vice presidential candidates to free themselves from the grip of the oligarchy, and have a concrete agenda to overcome the climate crisis. Greenpeace Indonesia believes that the power of the people who will exercise their political rights in the 2024 elections will be able to weaken the power of the oligarchy and save the earth,” said Iqbal.
Editor Notes:
See photos and videos in action at this link: https://media.greenpeace.org/collection/27MZIFJFB4JGP
Media Contacts:
Iqbal Damanik, Greenpeace Indonesia Forest Campaigner, +62 811-4445-026
Budiarti Putri, Media Campaigner for Greenpeace Indonesia, +62 811-1463-105