May 1 holiday rejected in Indonesia

www.chinaview.cn 2006-05-01 19:33:45

JAKARTA, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla on Monday rejected calls to grant a holiday during the International Labor Day commemoration on May 1, saying the country already has too many days off.

"If we accepted the calls, there would be too many holidays. Therefore we oppose them," he told reporters here.

Kalla said Indonesia has at least 12 holidays a year for religious events and national celebrations.

On the occasion, Kalla expressed relief that the worker's day commemoration went peacefully despite the presence of an estimated 100,000 workers in the capital alone and praised security officers for their "professional works" in safeguarding the nation.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who was on an official visit to Middle East countries, has made a phone call to thank workers, labor unions and security officers for the absence of violence during the nationwide rally earlier in the day, said Kalla. Enditem

Editor: Lu Hui