Hunger-striking workers in bad shape in East Kalimantan

Rusman, Samarinda

Thousands of workers with two timber companies continued their two-week protest on Friday to demand their April and May salaries, nine of whom have been on a hunger strike since Wednesday.

The protesters are also holding two executives of PT Kalimanis Plywood Industry (KPI) and PT Santi Murni Plywood (SMP), whom they took hostage on Tuesday to press for their demands to be met.

The hunger striking workers were in bad shape on Friday but vowed to continue until their demands were met by the companies.

"We are accustomed not to eating. Moreover, we haven't received our salaries for two months," said Gartini, one of the nine hunger strikers.

"All the workers and their families are experiencing the same fate as us, they are probably starving," he added.

The nine hunger strikers camped out in front of the main gate of the East Kalimantan governor's office in Samarinda, while other protesters picketed outside the companies.

The strike, involving some 3,000 workers, began two weeks ago and on Tuesday they kidnapped two company executives -- operational division head Wahyudi Manaf and his assistant Bonar Sianturi.

The company management has only agreed to pay them Rp 500,000 (US$55) each per month, although their monthly salaries are between Rp 800,000 and Rp 1 million. The company claims it does not have the funds to pay the workers.

In a recent meeting between both sides, the companies promised to pay the salaries in full in the near future.

The first part will be paid later this week, and further talks are scheduled to discuss the remaining payment.

Ismet Soeryo, chairman of East Kalimantan's National Front for the Struggle of Indonesian Workers (FNPBI), said the hostage- taking and the strike were aimed at putting pressure on the companies he accused of neglecting employees' welfare.

The move was also to protest against the government, which Ismet said has "always sheltered behind the companies" and failed to protect the workers.

"The fate of the workers is under threat. They are finding it increasingly difficult to support their daily existence. Their demand for food has not been met and their children may be forced to drop out of school," Ismet said.

East Kalimantan administration official Sjachruddin said the local government would mediate to settle the deepening labor dispute at the two timber companies located in Selili, Samarinda.

"The provincial government will try to find a solution to this problem by acting as a facilitator. Alternatively, we may wait for the results of talks between the workers' representatives and the managements," he added.

Sjachruddin said his office would send a letter to the owner of the companies, Shine Hill based in Hong Kong, urging it to immediately resolve the case.

The companies have reportedly not paid salaries to over the 3,000 workers because the plywood business is severely depressed. Negotiations between the firm's management and the workers have been held, but no clear solution has been reached.