Local Issue: Chaos For Cancelling [Stunning] Tax
Pati shows true meanings of the term "Warga Kabupaten": proud, brave, organized, united. While my mind is drawn to grand ideas & world events [Gaza, all football friendlies, etc], my temperament steers me toward a life of modest rythms & manageable stakes. I'm a Kabupaten Man through & through. My beloved [two, was three, but forced to sell in Bali] homes in Kabupaten.
Riot, tension rises at the protest against the Central Java Pati Regent [named] Sudewo. The police have begun arresting, beating, and kicking the protestors who are forcing their way inside the Pati Regency Hall - Building Complex [around 600 km from Jakarta Indonesia capital].
90,000 people joined the rally outside the Pati Regent’s building complex, far exceeding the 70,000 initially invited. Protesters carried placards, chanted slogans, and listened to speeches from community leaders and legal representatives. Entire Pati population [2025] around 115,000. Vox populi, vox dei. Imagine all [Indonesia] regions can unite and fuck the [Indonesia] central government like this.
“This is a festival of revoking the people’s voting rights,” said alliance lawyer Nimerodin Gulo, accusing Sudewo of betraying the mandate of those who elected him. He warned that demonstrators would remain until their demands were met.
Because addressing the root causes of public problems is often politically untenable, politics is reduced to two basic moves: redirecting public anger toward a convenient scapegoat, or handing out symbolic candies to keep the crowd distracted. Governing becomes crowd control.
Some protestors also throw bottles and stones at the police. "Attention Pati fellow, please don’t throw and conduct the demonstration in an orderly manner,” one of the police personnel says through a speaker.
Around 50 protestors being arrested and taken away from the crowd by police. Several protesters was recorded being kicked by the police during the arrest, thanks for live report crowdsource account BARENG WARGA [WITH THE PEOPLE] twitter.
A few moments earlier, protestors managed to force their way into the courtyard of the Pati Regency building by breaking the wing gate of the complex this morning.
Protesters also managed to tear down the fence at the back door of the building. The demonstrators climb over the 3-meter-high fence. Previously, they also tore down the police barricade fence installed in front of the back gate.
The tax hike policy received widespread protest from residents once it was made public in June, with many residents accusing Sudewo of being out of touch for implementing such a steep increase amid a nationwide economic slowdown. Sudewo’s decision to raise urban and rural land and building tax (PBB-P2) rates by up to 250 percent, a move many residents say has placed an excessive burden on households. Critics have also condemned several of his other policies as controversial and disconnected from local needs.
Tensions boiled over when the crowd, frustrated at being unable to meet Sudewo despite earlier assurances, hurled bottles, vegetables, and other objects at police. Officers responded with tear gas, forcing parts of the crowd to disperse. Several protesters, mostly women, sustained injuries and were taken to health posts and ambulances for treatment.
[Chemical-expired ammunition used by pokice against protestors in Pati Indonesia]
Chanting “Come out, Sudewo!” the protesters, who packed the courtyard of the regency hall, tried to push through the main and side gates. Inside, Sudewo was reportedly accompanied by Pati Police Chief Jaka Wahyudi and Military District Commander Timotius Berlian Yogi Ananto, who were said to be urging him to address the demonstrators.
[HIDUP PEREMPUAN YANG MELAWAN =»> english =»> Long live women resistance]
[aware with police / cop because all cops all bastard / acab]
The protesters outlined five demands: Sudewo’s resignation; rejection of the five-day school week policy; rejection of a Rp 2 billion renovation of Pati Town Square; opposition to the demolition of the historic Pati Town Square Mosque; and scrutiny of a Rp 1.39 billion videotron project.
In a rapid political response, the Pati Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) held a sudden plenary session and unanimously agreed to form a special committee to launch an impeachment inquiry into Sudewo. All political parties --including Gerindra, Sudewo’s own party, along with PDI-P, PPP, PKB, PKS, Democrat, and Golkar-- supported the move.
“Considering the situation in society and the number of residents hurt, we have agreed to exercise our right of inquiry and form the Pansus,” DPRD Pati Speaker Ali Badrudin said, prompting a loud show of approval from council members.
The session was convened at short notice, with invitations only issued on Wednesday.
As of now [4.30pm Local / 5.30am NYC] five-hundreds of police still block the protestors from re-entering again the Regency building complex. The police were equipped with anti-riot gear and managed to hold back the masses 60 meters into the gate.
The police set up an iron barricade at the entrance. Six water cannons and one barracuda car still standby at the entrance to safeguard the protest.
[widespread chaos not only in Pati Regency complex but also kampong / village, around 12 km from Regency complex]
Last Friday, regent of Pati Sudewo has revoked a 250 percent increase in property taxes following mounting public protests and pledged to refund residents who had already paid the higher rate.
The announcement was delivered on Friday at the Pati Regency Hall, where Sudewo said the property tax rate would be restored to 2024 levels.
“I am cancelling the property tax increase to maintain public order, ensure a conducive environment, and support economic activity and development in Pati Regency,” Sudewo said.
The rollback came after community groups united under the banner of Aliansi Masyarakat Pati Bersatu (United Pati People’s Alliance) and threatened mass demonstrations today.
Organizers said the dispute was about more than just taxes, accusing the regent of breaking campaign promises and challenging citizens to protest.
“This isn’t just about the tax. The regent broke his campaign pledge. He hasn’t even been in office for a year and has already raised taxes, then dared the people to demonstrate. That’s why residents are angry,” said protest coordinator Teguh Istianto.
Fundraising posts for the planned protest continued to receive donations of bottled water and other supplies from residents even after the policy reversal.
Sudewo, 56, was sworn in on February 20 alongside other newly elected mayors and regents across Indonesia. A member of the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), same political party with current Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo, he previously served two terms in the House of Representatives before winning the regency election. Rising vote-buying costs aren't necessarily signs of democratic decay; they may be a necessary transitional phase towards a money-politics-free system. When the price of buying votes outweighs the benefits, politicians will have no choice but to compete on ideas and credibility.
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