YLBHI and LBH protest worker shootings<\/p>\n
Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Foundation of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI)
\nand the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) condemned the shooting of two
\nworkers in Bandung, West Java, on Monday, saying it showed the
\nsecurity authorities were using violence to deal with industrial
\ndisputes.<\/p>\n
The two NGOs said in a joint press release, made available to
\nThe Jakarta Post on Tuesday, that the incident occurred when
\nabout 3,000 workers were on their way to the provincial
\nlegislative council to protest two labor bills being deliberated
\nby the House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
\"Workers have the right to express their opinion and the
\nCommittee of Action for Workers Solidarity (KSAB) had informed
\nBandung Police before the rally was held,\" the press release
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Both Supardjo and Syarif Hidayat suffered serious head
\ninjuries, when the two workers of PT Posulam Indo Utama in
\nCimahi, made their way onto the premises of another company to
\nforce its workers to join the rally.<\/p>\n
First. Insp. Hotben Gultom also suffered back injuries, when
\nseveral workers beat him after he had opened fire on the workers.<\/p>\n
The joint press release, jointly signed by Choirul Anam, head
\nof YLBHI's labor division, and Rita Olivia, head of LBH's labor
\ndivision, said the incident was strikingly similar to several
\nformer incidents. It cited as examples, the May 1993 killing of
\nMarsinah in Sidoardjo, East Java, and the gunning down of Kimun
\nEffendy and Rachmat Hidayat, both workers of PT Kadera in Jakarta
\nas well as the use of repression against journalists this year in
\nboth East Java and Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"This is real evidence that the government and the security
\nauthorities remain unable to understand disputes concerning
\nindustrial relations in Indonesia,\" it said, adding the police
\nshould investigate the case fairly and thoroughly.<\/p>\n
The NGOs have given their weight behind the workers'
\nobjections of the two labor bills, which they say renegades on
\nthe state's obligation to provide protection for workers.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Adj. Sr. Comr. Edwardsyah Pernong, chief of Bandung
\nPolice, said Supardjo, who was undergoing intensive care at Mitra
\nKasih General Hospital in Cimahi, was declared a suspect in the
\ncase.<\/p>\n
\"The suspect will be brought to court because he and five
\nother workers attacked Hotben and tried to take his gun and
\ncommunications radio,\" he said, citing the suspect could be
\njailed for five years for such a crime.<\/p>\n
He said that, of the 31 demonstrators arrested on Monday,
\neleven were released on Tuesday and the remaining 20 would be
\nquestioned further.<\/p>\n
Pernong said the workers had not protested civilly, but were
\ndeliberately provocative and violent toward the security
\nauthorities.<\/p>\n
\"We have evidence to suggest the suspect and the detainees
\nprovoked their fellow workers to join the violent rally and they
\nused violence against security personnel,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He reiterated the workers did not inform the authorities of
\ntheir plans so the police were unable to maintain security at the
\nrally.<\/p>\n
He said the local police were still searching for four labor
\nactivists from the National Front for the Struggle of Indonesian
\nWorkers (FNBI) who organized the rally.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ylbhi-and-lbh-protest-worker-shootings-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}