Pensioners protest failed payments

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Hundreds of former employees of a state- owned plantation company here demonstrated at the provincial legislative council denouncing the company's failure to pay their pension for six years.

Antara quoted some of the pensioners of the PTPN-II as saying that those who were still paid joined the protest because they only received up to Rp 16,800 (US$3) per month.

The protesters, from districts in Deli Serdang and Langkat regencies, waved placards and posters saying: You rob us of our pension rights. They also said that their situation was no better than during the Dutch colonial period.

Councilor Agustman St. Basa promised to help the pensioners, but asked them to be patient and not cause problems in the run-up to People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) meeting next March. (swe)