FSPSI sympathizes with Pakpahan

FSPSI sympathizes with Pakpahan

JAKARTA (JP): The sole officially-sanctioned labor union,
Federation of All-Indonesian Workers Union (FSPSI), showed a
gesture of friendship yesterday by coming to the defense of
Muchtar Pakpahan, the chairman of an unrecognized labor union who
is detained for his alleged involvement in the July 27 riots.

Newly-elected chairman Marzuki Achmad said that the union's
executive board recently agreed to express solidarity and
sympathy to Pakpahan, who is facing subversion charges.

FSPSI leaders showed their kindly feelings by visiting
Pakpahan at the Attorney General's Office detention center,
Marzuki said.

"We are not heartless, we have feelings, but we can't do much
to help him," Marzuki said, saying Pakpahan remained a labor
activist despite differences in the ways he and his Indonesian
Prosperous Labor Union (SBSI) fight for labor causes.

Marzuki, elected last week chair of the FSPSI executive
presidium, said former FSPSI chairman Bomer Pasaribu and
Secretary General of International Confederation of Free Trade
Unions Bill Jordan had also visited Pakpahan recently.

The rearrest of Pakpahan, an outspoken government critic, has
drawn criticism both home and overseas. The International Labor
Organization has recently in Geneva criticized Indonesia's poor
labor record as well as Pakpahan's arrest.

It placed the blame on the government for meddling in FSPSI
and for violating basic labor rights, including the right to form
associations.

Wilhelmus Bokha, a presidium member who accompanied Marzuki to
the press meeting, called on authorities not to "manipulate or
abuse" the laws to oppress government critics and dissident
groups.

A number of legal experts, practitioners and students have
also denounced the recent Supreme Court ruling sending Pakpahan
back to prison, for inciting a 1994 labor riot, after it had
quashed all charges last year.

Pakpahan had been found guilty of inciting a bloody rioting in
Medan, North Sumatra, in April 1994. But, in September, 1995, he
was acquitted of all charges by a team of Supreme Court judges
led by Deputy Chief Justice for General Crimes Adi Andojo
Soetjipto.

Marzuki and Bokha also spoke on other matters yesterday,
including the labor union's stance in the general election next
year. Marzuki, a member of the ruling Golkar, said the FSPSI is
an independent and free trade union, and takes a neutral
position.

"FSPSI will call on all workers to exercise their right to
vote in a free and direct manner," Marzuki said.

Most FSPSI officials, including those in provincial chapters,
come from Kosgoro, an organization affiliated to Golkar. (rms)