Labor unrest in Jombang

Labor unrest in Jombang

It seems the strike by 2,600 CV Maska Perkasa workers in Jombang (East Java) will have a long aftermath. The Brawijaya military commander, Maj. Gen. Imam Oetomo, has asked the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) to prove that his security forces used violence when dispersing the demonstration.

According to YLBHI, force was used by officers during the strike on Oct. 16 in Jombang. As a result, at least 22 strikers had to be hospitalized. The workers were allegedly beaten, kicked, trampled and thrown into trucks.

In response to the statement, the military commander on Oct. 30 invited all East Java newspaper chief editors to a meeting. He denied YLBHI's allegation that the security officers used force. The commander also said he would sue YLBHI unless it could prove the allegations, which were contained in a press release.

Naturally, as the one responsible for maintaining stability in East Java, the military commander wants to show the community that the actions taken by the security apparatus were not based on mere power, which is in conflict with the law. From this we can conclude that the military commander wishes to preserve East Java's security through legal procedures, not just force.

-- Surya, Surabaya