At least 100 clowns marched in Jakarta on Wednesday March 14 to promote peace as Indonesia gears up for the regional and national elections in the next year.
The country is scheduled to hold regional elections in 171 constituencies in June and legislative and presidential elections next year.
The clowns marched in their colorful costumes from Sarinah shopping mall on Jalan Thamrin to the nearby National Monument (Monas), screaming out their messages of peace and giving away balloons to people in the street.
At least 60 police officers were deployed to ensure the clowns could march safely to Monas.
“We want to greet the people of Jakarta and give them our messages of peace. Anyone who wants a balloon can have one,” Sumarsono, the head of the Indonesian Clown Artist Association (Pasbi), told the Jakarta Globe.
The 54-year-old also urged Indonesians to stop using the derogatory term “badut politik” (“political clowns”), especially during the upcoming election years, since it’s insulting to the clowns.
“I get angry whenever people use that term, ‘political clown’. Clowns are not evil,” Sumarsono said as he walks back to the nearby Jakarta city council office where he works as an expert staff.
Source: Jakarta Globe
Photo courtesy of Jakarta Globe