Labor lawsuit is legal, lawyers say

Labor lawsuit is legal, lawyers say

JAKARTA (JP): Lawyers of the Teater Buruh Indonesia
(Indonesian Labor Theater Group) told the Jakarta State
Administrative Court judge yesterday that their lawsuit against
the head of the City Directorate of Social and Political Affairs
is legal.

"Based on witness testimony and material evidence, the head of
the City Directorate of Social and Political Affairs refused to
issue a letter allowing the group to perform," said Eben Eser
Naibaho, one of the group's lawyers, urging the judge to accept
their lawsuit.

The theater group has filed a lawsuit against Bagus Suharyono,
head of the City Directorate of Social and Political Affairs,
whom they accuse of banning their performance of play entitled
Senandung Terpuruk dari balik Tembok Pabrik (Miserable Symphony
from behind the Factory Wall) in May.

Besides refusing to issue the recommendation, Bagus, through
his letter No.360/078.6, even revoked letters of recommendation
obtained by the group from the City Office of Cultural Affairs
and the City Tourism Office.

The lawyers argued that the city directorate did not have the
authority to refuse a letter of recommendation. (29)