Hunger-striking workers in bad shape in East Kalimantan
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.