Bawaslu Headquarters Become a Sudden Tourist Attraction
Jakarta. The offices of the Election Supervisory Agency, or Bawaslu, in Central Jakarta became somewhat of a tourist destination on Friday, following violent demonstrations in the area earlier this week, when thousands of supporters of losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto gathered to protest the results of the April 17 elections.
Visitors were seen taking photos of the area and the inevitable selfies, while enjoying street food.
"Jakarta is rarely quiet like this; we can see the ministry's offices and the Bawaslu building, which were crowded yesterday," Nurman, one of the visitors, said on Friday morning, referring to the nearby offices of the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs.
He said the razor-wire barricades installed on the road create an unusual and interesting backdrop for photos.
"I was bored at my dormitory, so I decided to come here to see the aftermath of the chaos that was reported by the media," Nurman said.
As one of the capital's commercial hubs, the Thamrin area in Central Jakarta, where the Bawaslu offices are located, is normally bustling with activity. But it has become quiet, almost desolate, since the riots, attracting mainly curious residents who want to observe conditions in the area for themselves.
Street vendors selling instant coffee and fried foods are cashing in.
"If we sell at Monas [the National Monument], we are often told to leave by officials, but here they won't. We can sell freely until any time," said Abdul Hakim, a fish-cake vendor.
The Bawaslu offices are right across the Sarinah shopping center and only about a kilometer from Monas.
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