PDAM Jaya labor union members questioned
PDAM Jaya labor union members questioned
JAKARTA (JP): At least 18 members of the labor union at city-
owned water company PDAM Jaya were questioned by city
inspectorate officials on Wednesday for their alleged involvement
in a series of protests against the company in April, an official
said.
The official, who asked not to be named, said the 18 people
were questioned because they were believed to have violated
various regulations, including taking part in the protests,
encouraging other employees to join the protests and drinking on
the job.
"The results of the questioning are expected to be
significant. Just wait and see," the official said.
As reported earlier, members of the labor union at PDAM Jaya
held a string of protests demanding the company revoke its
cooperation agreement with two foreign firms; PT Pam Lyonnaise
Jaya (Palyja) and PT Thames Jaya (TPJ).
The head of PDAM Jaya's labor union, Moerdiyanto, was among
those questioned on Wednesday. It is alleged he organized and led
PDAM Jaya employees in the protests, urged customers not to pay
their water bills, instructed employees not to go to work,
intimidated employees who refused to join the protests and
damaged company facilities.
Other high-ranking members of the PDAM Jaya labor union who
were questioned by inspectorate officials included Sulistyo, R.
Setyadi and Indra Cahya.
"If the inspectorate office cannot finish questioning all of
the suspects on Wednesday, the questioning will continue on
Thursday. That's it," the official said.
He added that board members at TPJ and Palyja were questioned
on Tuesday about the protests.
Palyja commissioner Bernard Lafrogne confirmed the board of
directors of Palyja and TPJ were questioned on Tuesday, adding
that he was not able to meet with inspectorate officials due to
previous engagements.
"Two staff members from Palyja, Fred and Rasan, represented me
during the questioning on Tuesday. This questioning is quite
important ... it will hopefully be beneficial for future water
services. Hopefully, there will be no more protests," Bernard
said.
Earlier, Moerdiyanto said PDAM Jaya employees were protesting
because they did not want to work for TPJ and Palyja.
Of the 3,000 PDAM Jaya employees, 1,500 are assigned to work
for Palyja, 1,300 for TPJ and the remaining 200 work at PDAM Jaya
headquarters.
"Our contracts are for PT Garuda Dipta Semesta (GDS) and PT
Kekar Pola Airindo (Kati)," Moerdiyanto said.
He was referring to PDAM Jaya's partners before it signed the
cooperation agreement with TPJ and Palyja.
GDS, owned by Anthony Salim, an associate of former president
Soeharto, cooperated with Lyonnaise des Eaux of France to manage
water distribution in the western part of the capital. Kati was a
joint venture company between Soeharto's son Sigit Hardjojudanto
and Thames Water International of Britain. The company managed
water distribution in the eastern part of the city.(ylt)