SBSI blames military for workers' riots<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Prosperous Labor Union (SBSI) is blaming
\nlast month's racial violence in Medan, North Sumatra, largely on
\nthe military's mishandling of a tense situation.<\/p>\n
Announcing its preliminary findings on the incident, the union
\nsaid yesterday the rioting was fueled by long-standing labor
\ndissatisfaction.<\/p>\n
Agus Tiana, an SBSI investigator, said thousands of workers
\nwere enraged by the security forces who blocked their way to the
\ngovernor's office for no apparent reasons on April 15.<\/p>\n
\"Security officers arrested and beat up several protesting
\nworkers,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The security forces, he added, made another blunder when they
\nherded the furious protesters back into the industrial center
\ninstead of to a soccer field nearby where the mob could have been
\nmore easily controlled.<\/p>\n
In the industrial estate, the protesters then vandalized
\nfactories, destroyed cars and killed an ethnic Chinese
\nbusinessman.<\/p>\n
The SBSI's has also alleged that businessmen took revenge
\nagainst workers and that security authorities are covering up
\nsome of the facts.<\/p>\n
\"The tight security measures at the Medan Industrial Estate
\nand the authorities' control of labor activism have prevented us
\nfrom digging for more information,\" Agus said.<\/p>\n
SBSI, which has been fighting for official recognition, has
\nbeen accused by the military of instigating the Medan riots.<\/p>\n
Three of its activists have been detained in connection with
\nthe rioting in Medan and its surroundings.<\/p>\n
Union activists have openly taken responsibility for
\nmobilizing the tens of thousands of protesters, but rebutted
\ncharges that they spread the anti-Chinese sentiment.<\/p>\n
\"We don't provoke anyone,\" said SBSI activist Tohap
\nSimanungkalit. \"What we do is to help workers raise their
\nconcerns.\"<\/p>\n
The investigation also found that last month's strikes in
\nPematang Siantar, Tanjung Morawa and Binjai in North Sumatra were
\nunrelated to those in Medan.<\/p>\n
Rival gangsters<\/p>\n
He said in Medan the workers demanded pay hikes, investigation
\ninto the mysterious death of labor activist Rusli, freedom to
\njoin any union and a probe into an alleged rape of a laborer by
\nher employer. Labor actions in other areas pressed for higher
\nwages only.<\/p>\n
The investigation also found \"strong indications\" that rival
\ngangsters may have been involved in the rioting.<\/p>\n
Agus said it is a fact that each company have some sort of
\ncooperation with organized crime. He said gang wars for control
\nover companies are common in Medan.<\/p>\n
As for the racial overtones, Agus said workers used the mass
\naction to vent their anger at the minority Chinese who dominate
\nthe economy and treat local workers \"unfairly\".<\/p>\n
\"Anti-Chinese sentiment is strong among workers,\" he said. He
\nadded that the investigation team and the authorities have yet to
\nidentify who made and circulated anti-Chinese leaflets.<\/p>\n
SBSI expressed concern over the growing indications that Medan
\nbusinessmen will take revenge against their striking workers.<\/p>\n
In the latest case, 400 workers of PT AKM in Medan took a
\nprotest to the provincial legislative council on Monday after
\ntheir employers canceled its decision to raise their daily wages
\nfrom Rp 3,200 from Rp 2,800, Agus said. (pan)<\/p>\n
Unemployment -- Page 2<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sbsi-blames-military-for-workers-riots-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }