20,000 workers stage rally to demand pay increase<\/p>\n
SURABAYA (JP): Around 20,000 workers took to the streets on
\nWednesday demanding pay increases and meal allowances, and
\nclashed with security personnel from the Marine, Army and Police
\nforces.<\/p>\n
Nine people, including four students, were detained on
\nsuspicion that they persuaded the demonstrators to start
\nvandalizing and pelting security personnel with stones. Police
\nand the military fired warning shots and sprayed yellow liquid to
\ndisperse the crowds of workers who started their protest seven
\ndays ago.<\/p>\n
Most of the demonstrators were employees of the PT Maspion
\nappliance manufacturer in Buduran, Sidoarjo, while others were
\nworkers from PT Rajapaksi, PT Omega, PT Panggung Elektronik, PT
\nSiantar Top Tbk, PT Trias Sentosa and PT Terang Fajar Persada.<\/p>\n
Riding on buses, trucks and motorcycles, the striking workers
\nvisited the governor's office, the East Java provincial
\nlegislature, and the provincial police headquarters. Along the
\nway, some of them vandalized passing vehicles.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, the workers gathered at a point along the border
\nof Sidoarjo and Surabaya, intending to march down to the city
\ncenter. Near the Waru roundabout, their advance was blocked by
\nhundreds of armed police and military troops.<\/p>\n
Traffic was paralyzed for hours, as the roundabout is the main
\nentrance to Surabaya. Thousands of residents were stranded as no
\npublic transportation could pass through.<\/p>\n
A few people among the frustrated demonstrators started to
\njeer and throw stones at the officers. Thousands of others,
\nhowever, followed suit and the air soon became thick with flying
\nstones.<\/p>\n
Security personnel fired warning shots and sprayed the crowd
\nwith yellow liquid.<\/p>\n
Four of the nine detainees were student members of the Arek
\nSurabaya Pro-Reformasi (Pro-Reform Surabaya Children).<\/p>\n
Chief of Surabaya Police Col. Alfian regretted that the
\nworkers' demonstration progressively turned ugly. \"We need to
\nfind out from those that we arrested why this happened,\" he said.<\/p>\n
A similar incident took place in Bandung, West Java, on
\nTuesday when hundreds of Panyawangan villagers in Cileunyi
\ndistrict went on rampage. They attacked PT Shinko Toyogo Gistex
\ngarment company which had refused to employ them.<\/p>\n
At least seven cars and parts of the factory building were
\ndamaged.<\/p>\n
The vandalism began at around 7 a.m., when hundreds of people
\narmed with bats and sticks rushed to the complex and started to
\nsmash up equipment. Managers and around 1,000 workers panicked
\nand fled the complex.<\/p>\n
At least 80 women workers fainted in the melee. No casualties
\nor injuries were reported. Some rioters said they were offended
\nbecause the managers did not accept some villagers' applications.<\/p>\n
\"I am really offended. Those who applied from outside the
\nvillage were hired on the spot, while our applications were
\ndismissed,\" villager Rohim said.<\/p>\n
The rioting subsided several hours later but police were still
\ndeployed to prevent further trouble. (nur\/43)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/20000-workers-stage-rally-to-demand-pay-increase-1447893297",
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