SBSI discussion stopped for security reasons<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Police yesterday broke up a discussion on
\npeople's rights held by the independent labor union, SBSI, citing
\nsecurity reasons.<\/p>\n
An officer of the East Jakarta police precinct said it was
\nbetter for the Indonesian Welfare Trade Union (SBSI) to cancel
\nthe discussion for fear participants might become victims of a
\n\"riot\".<\/p>\n
Corp. D. Ermanto told The Jakarta Post that police decided to
\nstop the talks when a crowd of around 10 men gathering outside
\nthe small SBSI office started yelling abuse at participants.<\/p>\n
He denied that the action was taken because the gathering did
\nnot have permits.<\/p>\n
SBSI chairman Muchtar Pakpahan said he only notified the local
\npolice office about the discussion, held to commemorate
\nInternational Human Rights Day which falls on Dec. 10.<\/p>\n
Muchtar also said he did not request any permits from the
\npolice because \"there was no need to do so\".<\/p>\n
Muchtar told the participants to stay calm even as the police
\nbroke up the meeting and the crowd outside of the room started to
\nyell \"Disperse this gathering, disperse SBSI!\".<\/p>\n
The men claimed to be members of the only officially-
\nsanctioned All Indonesia Trade Union (SPSI).<\/p>\n
\"We're from SPSI, we reject any rival organization!\" the men
\nshouted. A witness said another man shouted, \"Burn down the SBSI
\noffice.\"<\/p>\n
However, SPSI has denied any involvement with the incident.
\nChairman of the SPSI Jakarta branch Sujito Tamtomo told the Post
\nby telephone that the men could not possibly be SPSI members.<\/p>\n
\"The government has not declared SBSI illegal, so why would we
\nwant to stop them?\" he said.<\/p>\n
The fracas started at 2.20 p.m in the middle of the
\npresentation by Soenardi, the chairman of a previously large,
\npopulist organization, Gerakan Rakyat Marhaen (Marhaen Peoples'
\nMovement).<\/p>\n
Another participating Marhaen member, Sukmawati
\nSoekarnoputri, a daughter of the late President Sukarno, did not
\naddress the talks saying she was feeling unwell.<\/p>\n
Muchtar had earlier delivered his presentation without
\ninterruption.<\/p>\n
Ermanto led the police officers entering the office on Jl.
\nKayu Ramin 32 in the Utan Kayu Utara district, East Jakarta, and
\nsaid the gathering must be stopped \"in the name of the law\".<\/p>\n
\"The participants are in danger from the men outside,\" Ermanto
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Muchtar said he agreed to disperse the meeting, but asked the
\npolice to leave the room. Tension mounted when the police refused
\nto do so.<\/p>\n
An officer unplugged a cable from the sound system and tried
\nto take over the microphone, but Muchtar held on to it.<\/p>\n
The officers eventually went to the back of the room and stood
\nwatching while Muchtar closed the meeting, apologizing to the
\nparticipants which included representatives of the Australian
\nEmbassy and the American Free Labor Institute.<\/p>\n
Muchtar and several participants said the police should be
\nprotecting them from the men, whom the police did not approach.<\/p>\n
In a press release sent from SBSI hours after the incident,
\nstaff member Gatot Indroyono stated local police and military
\nofficials had arrived at 9 a.m. and declared that they were
\nsafeguarding the event.<\/p>\n
Officers, riot police and plainclothes security men then stood
\nguard at both ends of the street SBSI's office is on.<\/p>\n
Gatot said in the press release that SBSI members identified
\nan official of the East Jakarta SPSI office among the crowd.<\/p>\n
He said the discussion was being held after the dispersion of
\nSBSI training sessions in Medan, North Sumatra on Nov. 22 and
\nNov. 27. Authorities there had declared SBSI illegal.<\/p>\n
SBSI had intended to compare experiences with those of other
\nnew organizations, including the Indonesian National Unity, and
\nthe Indonesian Christian Participation (Parkindo), whose
\nactivities have not been disrupted by the authorities.<\/p>\n
Parkindo founder Sabam Sirait and PNI leader Mrs. Supeni
\nfailed to show up. (anr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sbsi-discussion-stopped-for-security-reasons-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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