KAI workers want Berto axed<\/p>\n
Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung<\/p>\n
More than 500 workers of PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) marched to
\nthe state railway company's headquarters in the West Java capital
\nof Bandung in yet another move to pressure the newly installed
\npresident director to resign.<\/p>\n
The protest, also involving representatives of their
\ncolleagues from other Java and Sumatra provinces, came as the
\ncompany's board of directors and heads of regional railway
\nstations held a two-day working meeting in the same office.<\/p>\n
The workers demanded that KAI president director Omar Berto,
\nwho was sworn in on Feb. 13, quit the post, citing that he was
\nunsuitable to lead the company.<\/p>\n
Amin Abdurachman, secretary-general of the Railway Trade Union
\n(SPKA), said Berto was a member of the previous board of
\ndirectors, who had all resigned in recognition of their moral
\nresponsibility for December's fatal head-on collision that killed
\nat least 30 people in Brebes, Central Java.<\/p>\n
He had played a role in contributing to the company's
\nmismanagement and was blamed for many rail crashes, Amin said.<\/p>\n
Last month, KAI employees threatened to boycott the operations
\nof some business- and executive-class trains serving the Jakarta-
\nJava route if the government retained Berto in his current post.<\/p>\n
But they later canceled the threat and instead met leaders of
\nrelevant agencies to air their grievances and demands.<\/p>\n
\"We have gently made known our objections, through audiences
\nwith the minister of state enterprises and the House of
\nRepresentatives Commission V. The commissioners have also
\nsignaled that Berto should resign. But, until now, nothing has
\nchanged,\" Amin told the demonstrators on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\"We are tired and frustrated. The government appears not to be
\nlistening to the workers' aspirations,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The four-hour protest ended at 12 a.m. Amin claimed the
\ndemonstrators represented 34,000 workers from the company across
\nIndonesia, all opposed to Berto.<\/p>\n
He vowed to continue protesting until the president director
\nwas fired.<\/p>\n
\"If Omar Berto is not replaced, make sure that a strike
\noccurs,\" read one banner carried by the protesters.<\/p>\n
\"Friends should believe that demonstrations and strikes are
\nthe best way now to force the government to heed our
\naspirations,\" said Slamet, a representative from Operational
\nRegion V in Purwokerto, Central Java.<\/p>\n
Amin said that when Berto served as the company's business
\ndevelopment director, he failed to put in a good performance.<\/p>\n
In a response to the rising pressures against him, Berto said,
\n\"Please go ahead with the demonstrations. It's not a problem
\nbecause I am still entrusted by the board of commissioners to run
\nthis company. I will continue\".<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kai-workers-want-berto-axed-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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