'Antara' labor activists fired<\/p>\n
JAKARTA: Two union activists at state-run news agency Antara, Adi
\nLazuardi and Sukirman Anwar, claimed they were dismissed last
\nFriday for calling a press conference to criticize the news
\nagency's chief, Mohammad Sobary.<\/p>\n
Adi was the chairman of the Antara Workers' Union (SPA), and
\nSukiman was the union's secretary-general.<\/p>\n
SPA, which Adi says has over 100 members from Antara's 600
\ntotal employees, has demanded Sobari's resignation over what the
\nunion calls two years of mismanagement and poor leadership.<\/p>\n
Adi and Sukiman claim Sobari dismissed them after accusing
\nthem of broadcasting Antara's internal affairs to outsiders by
\ncalling the press conference.<\/p>\n
\"We tried to meet with Sobari on numerous occasions, but he
\nhas always refused to see us for various reasons,\" said Adi, who
\nhad worked at the news agency for over 10 years.<\/p>\n
An Antara journalist, speaking on the condition of anonymity,
\nconfirmed Adi's statement, saying Sobari avoided meeting with
\nSPA, which is not recognized by Antara's management.<\/p>\n
The dispute between Adi and Sobari had been simmering since
\nlast year, when Sobari withdrew Adi's name as a candidate for the
\nchairmanship of Antara's Employee Council.<\/p>\n
Angered by the move, Adi and some 50 other Antara employees
\nestablished SPA, which was registered with the Ministry of
\nManpower and Transmigration last month.<\/p>\n
Former president Abdurrahman Wahid appointed Sobari to lead
\nAntara in 2000, replacing Parni Hadi. --JP<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/antara-labor-activists-fired-1447893297",
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