Vendors, musicians boycott RANS Carnival amid backlash over Youth Pledge event
Co-founded by celebrity-turned-government official Raffi Ahmad, the carnival saw vendors withdrawing from its latest edition after backlash over Raffi's involvement in a Thursday youth rally organized by the police.
Vendors and musicians have walked out of the latest RANS Carnival event in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, due to backlash over co-founder Raffi Ahmad's involvement in a youth rally. The carnival, organized by the celebrity-turned-government official, faced criticism following his participation in a rally that some accused of being a paid counterprotest to student-led demonstrations against the government.
At least a dozen food vendors announced on social media that they were withdrawing from the carnival's stop at the Maguwoharjo Stadium in Sleman regency, which took place from October 31 to November 1. Vendor owners cited recent situations and the decision to pull out as a last-minute choice, despite having already transported their ingredients to the venue.
Cuan King, a vendor, expressed regret in a social media post, stating that the decision was made for the betterment of the situation, believing fortune would come from elsewhere.
Pictures circulating on social media revealed that most food tents were deserted during the festival. Additionally, three prominent musical acts, including the ska band Tipe-X, canceled their performances scheduled for the event's opening and closing days. The boycott escalated after Raffi Ahmad attended a rally celebrating Indonesia's Youth Pledge on October 29, a day after the country's annual commemoration on October 28.
Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
