Thugs and Covid Protocols in Jakarta

by Zaki Arrobi. (First published on the Corona Governance in Urban Margins website, 20th October, 2020)

As Covid-19 cases continue to climb across Indonesia, Jakarta and some other local administrations have reimplemented “large scale social restrictions” (PSBB) in an attempt to control viral spread. Jakarta moved to “transitional” PSBB on the 12th of October 2020, but with cases still high, there is a strong chance tighter restrictions will need to be imposed again in the future. At the same time, the Indonesian military (TNI) and National Police (Polri) have said they will work together with ‘social organisations’ (organisasi masyarakat, ormas) and even thugs and gansters (preman) to ensure citizens obey health protocols in crowded places like traditional markets, offices and train stations.

Full post here, Corona Governance in Urban Margins