Kadera workers demand probe results from city police

JAKARTA (JP): At least 80 people representing several non- governmental organizations (NGOs) marched to city police headquarters on Monday, demanding police thoroughly investigate the Feb. 29 attack on PT Kadera AR Indonesia workers.

This was the second rally held this month in connection with the case.

"Police have still not arrested a single suspect. Meanwhile, the management of PT Kadera has lodged a submission at the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration to dismiss the striking workers," Surya Tjandra of the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta), who led the protesters, told journalists.

The attack at the company's plant, located in the Pulogadung industrial estate in East Jakarta, claimed the lives of two workers -- Kimun Effendi and Rachmat Hidayat.

The two people died from shrapnel wounds caused by the explosion of a homemade bomb, detonated as protesting workers were attacked by an armed mob.

Police have so far detained one of five suspects, identified as Sugiono.

"The sluggish investigation process has workers feeling insecure. It has also led us to the conclusion that several police units may be involved in the attack, explaining why the investigation is progressing so slowly," Tjandra said.

He claimed that, based on information gathered, there were actually two trucks loaded with police parked near the factory. He added that there were also two trucks with Indonesian Military personnel inside the compound, but none of them did anything to prevent the attack.

Representatives of the protesters were met on Monday by city police chief Insp. Gen Mulyono Sulaiman, who was accompanied by city police chief of detectives Sr. Comr. Adang Rochjana and spokesman Sr. Comr. Anton Bachrul Alam.

"The investigation is still in process now. We certainly cannot reveal all steps being taken by investigators to the public," Mulyono said.

Mulyono acknowledged that there were indications of an Army officer's involvement in the attack, and pledged that police were handling the investigation seriously.

He further claimed that a special team from the Cakung subprecinct had been formed to locate the Army suspect.

"The most important thing is that the process continues. We are all working and hope for a resolution as soon as possible. We will openly reveal the situation if we find that we are deadlocked in the case," he said.

Mulyono added that police were trying to find a win-win solution to the case, which would allow investment to stay in the country, while at the same time ensuring workers' rights. He did not elaborate further. (01)