Rights commission asked to investigate Jombang case<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A group of 10 student activists and workers
\nyesterday came to the National Commission on Human Rights and
\nurged the body to investigate the alleged military violence
\nagainst striking workers in Jombang, East Java, recently.<\/p>\n
The group, called the Committee of Solidarity for Workers at
\nthe Maska Perkasa shoe company, referring to the company against
\nwhich the strike was staged in October. Yesterday, they were
\nreceived by Commission member Sugiri.<\/p>\n
The activists said that local troops, trying to disperse the
\nstrikers, beat and harassed workers who were demanding that the
\ncompany meet the official minimum wage.<\/p>\n
\"We're asking the Commission to send a fact finding team
\nbefore some labor activists go on trial next month for staging
\nthe strike,\" said the group's spokesman, Syamsunar.<\/p>\n
Following the strike, the local branch of the Indonesian Legal
\nAid Foundation reported to the press that one worker was
\nseriously injured and 20 others were hospitalized in the strike.<\/p>\n
Both the regional military command and the government have
\ndenied the reports of military violence against the striking
\nworkers.<\/p>\n
Minister of Manpower said last month that the accusation was
\ntotally unfounded. \"We've checked the case with officials in
\nJombang. No workers were wounded or hospitalized following the
\nstrike as reported by the press,\" Latief said. Nobody fainted or
\nwas injured, he added.<\/p>\n
Syamsunar yesterday also reported the torturing of some
\nworkers and the molesting of women protesters during police
\nquestioning.<\/p>\n
The group also urged the Commission to help provide protection
\nfor witnesses from intimidations by the local authorities.<\/p>\n
Syamsunar charged that the workers were threatened not to make
\nany contact with student activists. Otherwise, they would be
\naccused of involvement with the outlawed Indonesian Communist
\nParty (PKI), he said.<\/p>\n
Syamsunar said that some of the witnesses and activists were
\nalso forced into signing a police dossier claiming that there was
\nno violence during the strike.<\/p>\n
Khusnul Khotimah, a 22-old worker, told Sugiri that she and
\nsome other female workers were sexually harassed by security
\nofficers.<\/p>\n
\"They kicked me and pushed me until I fainted. When I came to,
\nI found them groping me,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Sugiri said the Commission has called on Armed Forces
\nCommander Gen. Feisal Tanjung to take action against the troops
\ninvolved in the violence.<\/p>\n
Expressing regrets over the case, Sugiri, however, said that
\nthe Commission will not be able to send a team to investigate the
\ncase before the strikers go on trial. (01)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rights-commission-asked-to-investigate-jombang-case-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}