SBSI reports violations to rights body<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The independent Indonesian Prosperous Labor
\nUnion (SBSI) reported the mistreatment its activists have
\nreceived from government officials and the military to the
\nNational Commission on Human Rights yesterday.<\/p>\n
Led by chairman Muchtar Pakpahan, the delegation of 15 labor
\nactivists were received by secretary-general of the commission,
\nBaharuddin Lopa.<\/p>\n
The activists reported four violations by the authorities:<\/p>\n
* The police disbanding a training course for SBSI members in
\nSibolangit, North Sumatra, on Nov. 28, 1995, and the subsequent
\nban on the union's activities in the region.<\/p>\n
* Confiscating letters addressed to the labor organization and
\ntapping the union's telephones over the past three years.<\/p>\n
* The police disbanding a discussion organized by the union on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
* Intimidation by the military since the union was established
\nin 1992.<\/p>\n
Muchtar said the government and the military have invariably
\ncited security reasons as grounds for restricting the
\norganization's activities.<\/p>\n
\"The government does not have the right to ban our
\norganization, or bar us from corresponding with overseas labor
\norganizations because freedom of association and speech is
\nguaranteed by the Constitution,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said he had the evidence that the authorities had seized
\nletters sent to SBSI by many foreign labor unions.<\/p>\n
He also charged that the military has pressured companies to
\ndismiss around 5,000 SBSI members.<\/p>\n
Muchtar went on to accuse the police of giving electric shocks
\nto two SBSI members they were questioning for allegedly being
\ninvolved in labor strikes in Tangerang and Bekasi last year.<\/p>\n
He identified the activists as Raswan, the chairman of the SBS
\nchapter in Tangerang, and Eliasa Budianto, the chairman of the
\nSBSI chapter in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Lopa called on the SBSI, the government and the Armed Forces
\nto hold talks to reduce misunderstandings.<\/p>\n
He said the incidents the activists mentioned were \"excesses
\nof a basic problem; namely poor communication between the two
\nsides.\"<\/p>\n
The commission is \"ready to facilitate such dialog,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He also said the commission had met with Minister of Manpower
\nAbdul Latief to discuss the problems faced by the independent
\nunion. \"He promised to hold talks with SBSI, though he hasn't
\ndone so,\" Latief said.<\/p>\n
Latief has frequently stated the government would never talk
\nwith SBSI because it is not an official labor union.<\/p>\n
Lopa suggested SBSI consider merging with the government-
\nbacked All Indonesian Workers Union (SPSI). Muchtar said the
\nmembers agreed to do so if \"SPSI became an independent and
\ndemocratic workers union\".<\/p>\n
The organization should also be \"cleansed\" of politicians, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
In addition, the government and military must never interfere
\nin labor matters, including the labor organization's internal
\nmatters, he said.<\/p>\n
He said SBSI, which recently became affiliated with the
\nInternational Free Trade Union Organization, had no political
\ninterests.<\/p>\n
\"We represent workers to improve their economic welfare. That
\nis all,\" he said. (rms)<\/p>\n
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