Workers join protest against R&D policy<\/p>\n
Berni K. Moestafa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Several labor unions representing thousands of workers from both
\nprivate and state companies joined protests against releasing
\ndebtors from possible criminal charges, saying that they might
\nresort to a nationwide strike or sue the government to annul the
\ndecision.<\/p>\n
Labor unions of state utility companies, such as
\ntelecommunications company PT Telkom and PT Indosat, electricity
\ncompany PT PLN, oil and gas company Pertamina and railway company
\nPT KAI, as well as unions from state- and private-owned banks and
\neven a union representing workers from Japanese companies, signed
\na petition on Tuesday against the government's release and
\ndischarge, or R&D, policy.<\/p>\n
Nazir Syarief, representing labor unions at state companies
\nlike PT Indosat and PT Telkom, said the petition was the first
\nstep in a campaign to revoke the R&D policy.<\/p>\n
"Our last resort would be to cease services -- no power, no
\nlong-distance calls, even if it's just for an hour," Nazir said.<\/p>\n
Under the R&D policy, ex-bankers who have admitted to abusing
\nabout US$10 billion in state funds could avoid legal prosecution
\nif they repay some of the money and other debts to the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
Union members, however, said the policy smacked of injustice.
\nLast week, non-governmental organizations threatened to sue
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri if she insisted on releasing
\ndebtors from possible criminal charges.<\/p>\n
"The government should instead make a list of rich corruptors
\nand force them to return the money," Nazir said.<\/p>\n
Coordinator of the Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW), Teten
\nMasduki, who helped arranged the press meeting for the petition
\nsigning, said the petition would enhance the campaign against the
\nR&D policy.<\/p>\n
"We may not be staging mass demonstrations on the streets, but
\nwe'll make sure the government hears our voice," he said.<\/p>\n
Teten said labor unions signing the petition represented
\naround 200,000 workers nationwide.<\/p>\n
Tuesday's petition signing comes on the heels of nationwide
\ndemonstrations against the government's move to raise fuel,
\nelectricity and telephone charges.<\/p>\n
Udi Bowo, representing PLN's labor union, concurred and said
\nthe government should reverse its policy of raising utility
\nprices as "our workers are suffering quite a lot from the
\ngovernment's policies."<\/p>\n
ICW described the decision as unpopular, but one that went
\nahead despite public protests.<\/p>\n
"They (the government) forgive debts, raise utility charges,
\nand sell state assets," Teten said.<\/p>\n
Iskandar Sonhadji, a legal expert at ICW, said the labor
\nunions and several non-governmental organizations have considered
\nfiling a class action lawsuit or calling a judicial review to
\nannul the R&D policy.<\/p>\n
Labor unions joining the anti-R&D protest marks a shift from
\ntheir previous concerns on the sale of state companies.
\nMeanwhile, it also signals a more unified front amid growing
\nprotests against President Megawati over what they described were
\nher insensitive policies.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/workers-join-protest-against-rd-policy-1447893297",
"image": ""
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