On November 5th, life slowly returned to normal in Jakarta. Streets weren’t empty. Shopping centers were filled with people. It’s a typical Jakarta weekend. The rally the day before may have turned violent, but for the most part, the event proceeded peacefully. Some people were distressed because the violent turn of event—particularly the riot in Penjaringan, North Jakarta—reminded them of the painful memories of the riot in 1998. There was a palpable air of unease. Through it all, however, Indonesian netizens were able to find some light-minded topics to talk about. One in particular may have helped with retail sales figures, i.e., the jacket that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo wore when he addressed the public in the evening of November 4th.To subscribe please click here
