Labor protests turn violent<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Workers' protests turned to violence in the West
\nJava capital of Bandung when thousands of demonstrators
\nvandalized the provincial legislative council building,
\ndestroying and setting fire to more than 30 cars and at least 25
\nmotorcycles on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The violence was part of a wave of workers' protests in large
\ncities on Wednesday, with the only concrete demand being that the
\ntwo ministerial decrees on labor issues be revoked.<\/p>\n
President Abdurrahman Wahid's earlier refusal to nullify the
\ncontroversial decrees nevertheless granted some concessions to
\nworkers.<\/p>\n
According to the President, provinces were allowed to continue
\nimplementing Decree No. 150\/200 if it were deemed necessary.<\/p>\n
Most of the windows of the legislature building were broken by
\nthe protesters, who also set alight furniture, books and
\ndocuments, Antara reported.<\/p>\n
Stones and fragments of glass were found scattered in most
\nparts of the complex, including the small mosque.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday thousands of protesting workers blocked the
\nPadalarang-Cileunyu toll road, while voicing similar demands.<\/p>\n
The All-Indonesia Workers Union Federation (FSPSI) strongly
\ndenied that the violence had been carried out by its members.<\/p>\n
Later in the day, Bandung police said that the alleged
\nmasterminds of the violence had been identified.<\/p>\n
In Surabaya, East Java, thousands of workers from companies
\nlocated in Sidoarjo, an industrial town adjacent to Surabaya,
\nrenewed their protest by blocking the main streets in the town,
\nwhich necessitated traffic diversions for hours.<\/p>\n
The East Java administration has officially refuted the new
\nDecree No. 78\/2001.<\/p>\n
They also pelted dozens of factories adjacent to the road with
\nstones, in defiance of the riot police and Marines safeguarding
\nthe area.<\/p>\n
A protester was shot in the leg, following a clash between the
\nprotesters and security officers.<\/p>\n
\"Warning shots were fired by security officers to quell the
\nangry mob,\" a demonstrator said.<\/p>\n
The protesters finally managed to break through the security
\nofficers' barricade that was blocking them from entering
\nSurabaya.<\/p>\n
Around 2,000 workers in open trucks then stormed the
\nprovincial legislature building in Surabaya to voice their
\ndemands.<\/p>\n
Abdurrachman, an employee of PT Maspion II, said that the
\nworkers had not been informed that the President had refused to
\nrevoke the controversial ministerial decrees.<\/p>\n
\"This is all a game between the President and his ministers.
\nThings will become worse,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Surabaya Police chief Sr. Comr. Suharto said that four people
\nhad been identified as provocateurs, but no arrest has been made.<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, thousands of workers from FSPSI and the Labor
\nUnion Federation for Textile, Garment and Leather Workers
\n(FSPTSK) staged a rally in front of the Vice President's Palace
\non Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan, urging the revocation of Decrees
\nNo. 78 and No. 111 issued by Minister of Manpower and
\nTransmigration Alhilal Hamdi earlier in May this year.<\/p>\n
They also demanded that old decree No. 150\/200, issued by then
\nMinister Bomer Pasaribu, be re-enacted.<\/p>\n
The demonstrators who arrived at the location in dozens of
\nbuses had tied their heads with white, blue and red banners with
\n\"FSPTSK\" written on them. They also stretched out a long banner
\nthat read \"revoke it or it will claim lives\".<\/p>\n
One of the protesters, Handoko, said that the workers
\npreferred to stage a rally at the Vice President's office because
\nthe ministerial decrees had been produced in Cabinet meetings
\npresided over by Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
Some of the protesters blocked Jl. Kebon Sirih in front of the
\ncity council building and demanded to meet the councillors.<\/p>\n
The workers were unable to meet Governor Sutiyoso, who was
\nreportedly busy with other matters.<\/p>\n
City Council deputy chairman Djaffar Badjeber, who met some 30
\nworkers' representatives, expressed his support for the workers'
\ndemands.<\/p>\n
\"We disagree with the decrees, which seem to benefit
\nbusinesspeople,\" Djaffar said.<\/p>\n
In response to the workers' protest, President Abdurrahman
\nrefused to nullify the decrees on Tuesday, due to concern over
\nthe impact that would have on investors.<\/p>\n
In a meeting with FSPSI chairman Hikayat Atika Karwa, the
\nPresident said the two decrees had to be issued to replace
\nprevious ministerial Decree No. 150\/2000, following complaints
\nfrom investors.<\/p>\n
Labor activists had expressed anger over the revision of the
\ndecree, branding it a setback for workers.<\/p>\n
The old decree stipulated, among other things, that employers
\nwere obliged to provide workers who resigned compensation and a
\nbonus for their \"dedication\". According to the new decree No.
\n78\/2001, workers who resign will receive only a compensation
\npayment.<\/p>\n
The old decree did not set out any terms that workers who had
\nresigned had to meet in order to be eligible for the money, while
\nthe new decree does. (01\/jun\/nur\/sur)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/labor-protests-turn-violent-1447893297",
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