Labor union demands firm measures against rioters

JAKARTA (JP): The All Indonesian Workers Union (SPSI) has demanded firm measures be taken against the workers who looted shops and burned cars during a series of demonstrations in North Sumatra's provincial capital of Medan.

SPSI Chairman Marzuki Achmad said the security forces should take action against what he called the "brutal" demonstrations by thousands which deteriorated into an anti-Chinese riot leaving a local Chinese businessman dead and 12 others injured in Indonesia's third largest city.

Marzuki also called on the authorities to look into the core of the problem and punish the industrialists who do not abide by the country's labor regulations.

"The incident in Medan should be taken as an example, so as to avoid similar unpleasant events from happening in other cities," the Antara news agency, quoting Marzuki, reported yesterday.

Around 20,000 workers staged protests in Medan's industrial zone last week to demand higher wages and better working conditions.

Some 150 shops were ransacked and 12 cars were set ablaze during the protests, prompting factories and shops, most of which are owned by ethnic Chinese, to close down.

Marzuki also said that although he fully backed the decisions of North Sumatra Military Commander Maj. Gen. A Pranowo, who banned street protest and demonstration in the area, he hoped the ban would not last long so as not to deprive the rights of the right to strike.

Over the past few months, labor rights and demands for higher wages have become central issues in the country as workers have become increasingly vocal about their dissatisfaction with the government set minimum wage, military intervention in strikes, and a lack of benefits.

Marzuki called on all SPSI chapters to fight for the workers' interest through legal means, since failure to fulfill their aspirations might lead them to other, less acceptable, actions.

In a related development, Muchtar Pakpahan, the general chairman of the Indonesian Prosperous Labor Union (SBSI), a labor organization not recognized by the government, also aired his deep concern over the Medan incidents.

"I take all the responsibility for the incidents, although I do not know exactly the core of the problem," Muchtar said as quoted by Antara.

H.A. Gufron, another SBSI board member, said his organization was not involved in the violence in Medan. "We demand that those guilty of masterminding the riots be punished," he stated.

Noting that the SBSI had conducted an investigation into the Medan case, Gufron said the organization had discovered some evidence of the involvement of third party whom he called as "bandits" in the demonstrations and that they had been paid to ransack shops and beat a number of Chinese Indonesians. (ego)