Paras Indonesia, 05, 03 2006 @ 12:56 am
Labor Protesters Clash With Police, 13 Detained
Posted by: Enrico Aditjondro on 05, 03 2006 @ 12:56 am
After a massive May Day rally at the beginning of the month, tens of thousands of
workers hit streets again on Wednesday (3/5/06) to reiterate their rejection of planned
changes to labor laws. This time they pushed down the main gate of the national
parliament compound, while some set fire to tires and threw stones at police. They
were driven back by tear gas and water cannons.
Police detained 13 members of the Confederation of All-Indonesian Workers Union
(KSPSI) for failing to keep a promise that the demonstration would be peaceful.
Detikcom online news portal reported that another worker was beaten but not
arrested, while three Mobile Brigade (Brimob) police officers were injured by
demonstrators. Two reporters from private television networks ANTV and MetroTV
were also reportedly wounded in the melee.
After the gate was pushed down at about 3.45pm, some of the protesters began
shouting abuse and hurling stones, sticks, bottles and rubbish at police. Officers
responded with tear gas and water cannons, prompting the workers to flee in two main
groups. But the protesters later regrouped and began returning to parliament. Officers
again used tear gas and water cannons to drive back the mob.
Jakarta Police chief Inspector General Firman Gani gave the protesters an ultimatum
to disperse peacefully by 6pm or face further action. He said the workers would
endanger themselves and other citizens if they failed to leave.
Most of the protesters agreed to leave the area, saying it was getting late and they
were tired. Many roads were closed because of the demonstration, while one toll
road's barriers were damaged by the protesters. Some police who had been hit by
volleys of debris and verbal abuse vented their anger by striking their batons against
trucks and buses that were to return the workers to their suburbs. The windows and
doors of several buses were smashed by the police.
The government has said revisions to the 2003 Labor Law, such as reducing
severance pay, are necessary to make Indonesia more competitive and more
attractive to foreign investors.
But protesters say the changes jeopardize the right to form unions and strike. They
also say the biggest deterrents to foreign investment are corruption, excessive
government red tape and a lack of supporting infrastructure.
Monday's May Day rally also attracted tens of thousands of workers, mostly brought
into the city in buses and trucks, but proceeded peacefully and fizzled out under a
torrential downpour of rain.
There was no rain during Wednesday's rally, which exacerbated Jakarta's already
severe traffic congestion. Denied entry to parliament, some of the protesters began
shaking the gate until it collapsed.
About 50 representatives of the protesters were granted a meeting with legislators but
failed to reach an agreement.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is on a visit to the Middle East, has
promised the government would ensure the changes to the law are made in
consultation with all parties, including academics, labor leaders and the business
community. But the workers don't want any changes.
Parliament speaker Agung Laksono said the House of Representatives was yet to
make any decision on the government's planned changes to the Labor Law. But he
acknowledged that "some individual legislators indeed have expressed their objection
to the law's planned revision".
State news agency Antara reported that House Commission IX on manpower affairs
had issued an official statement rejecting the changes to the legislation. But Laksono
said the commission's stance was not necessarily shared by the rest of parliament.
He said parliament's final decision would be made at a plenary meeting at a date yet
to be determined. He said the key problem was not the revisions, but how to improve
workers' welfare without damaging the investment climate.
"So if the law needs revision, it must not harm anybody. Both workers and investors
must get benefit from the law's revision," he was quoted as saying by Antara.
He said attracting more foreign investors create job opportunities, reduce
unemployment and boost economic growth.
The government hopes that by curtailing severance pay and labor strikes, Indonesia
will be able to attract $426 billion of new investment by 2009, enabling the country to
enjoy economic growth of 6.6%.
Under the proposed changes, severance pay will be reduced to the equivalent of seven
months' salary from nine months. Also, workers paid more than Rp1 million ($110) a
month will not be eligible for pensions. Employers would be able to hire workers for up
to five years without giving them a permanent contract.
KSPSI chairman Syukur Sarto said protests would continue until the leaders of
parliament agree to formally reject the revisions.
Manpower Minister Erman Suparno has defended the changes, which he said are
currently being discussed by academics from five universities. "We ask labor unions
not to be prejudiced against the plan to revise the law because it is aimed at
improving the workers' welfare and providing legal certainty for them, as well as
creating a conducive environment for new investment," he was quoted as saying by
Antara.
Meanwhile, Vice President Jusuf Kalla said he believed that "irresponsible elements"
had infiltrated Wednesday's rally to create violence. "The worker's previous action had
been good, so perhaps they have now been infiltrated so this [violence] happened," he
was quoted as saying by detikcom.
He expressed regret over the damage to parliament's gate and nearby toll road
barriers, saying future rallies should be more peaceful. "The government, parliament
and the workers must look after each other, because having prosperous workers is in
everyone's interest."
The 13 KSPSI members detained by police were initially held at the parliament
compound and later taken to city police headquarters for further questioning.
Gani said none had been declared suspects yet. He said KSPSI's management would
be held accountable for all material damages incurred during the protest. He
confirmed that two television reporters had been injured but declined to name them or
say who had attacked them.
The 13 KSPSI detainees were identified as:
1. Elih Ahmad Sukandar (from Karawang)
2. Yana (Tangerang)
3. Muhammad Sidik (Tangerang)
4. Priyanto (Tangerang)
5. Zulkifli (Tangerang)
6. Didin Syamsudin (Tangerang)
7. Istiyansyah (Tangerang)
8. M. Saiful (Tangerang)
9. Margiono (Cibitung, Bekasi)
10. Herman Yosef (Bekasi)
11. Billy Rustanto (Tangerang)
12. Suyanto (Tangerang)
13. Yudi Wahyudi (Tangerang)
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