Police complete dossier on union leader
Police complete dossier on union leader
JAKARTA (JP): The North Sumatra police have turned the dossier
on union leader Muchtar Pakpahan over to the local prosecution
office in connection with his alleged role in the workers' riots
in Medan last April.
National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. I Ketut Ratta told
reporters yesterday that the police built their case against
Muchtar based on Chapters 160 and 161 of the Criminal Code.
Chapter 160 refers to instigating or provoking others to
commit violent acts or crime. It carries a maximum penalty of six
years in jail.
Chapter 161 refers to instigating others to commit violent
acts or crime through the publication of written materials. It
carries a maximum penalty of four years in jail.
Muchtar was picked up at his Jakarta home early this month by
police and taken to Medan for interrogation in connection with
the week-long workers' riot last April.
He is the chairman of the Indonesian Prosperous Labor Union
(SBSI), a two-year-old organization which has been contesting the
government's policy of recognizing the All Indonesian Workers
Union (SPSI) as the only organization allowed to represent
workers in disputes with managements.
SBSI officials have admitted that they mobilized the massive
workers' protest in Medan last April, but stressed that the
violence occurred because the workers were unnecessarily
provoked.
One businessman died in the riot and dozens of factories in
Medan's outskirts were looted and ransacked.
The police dossier states that Muchtar made frequent visits to
Medan before the April 14 riot. He met with local labor leaders
during those visits. It was during these meetings that he
provoked them to go on a strike and break the law, Ratta said.
Muchtar was also present at several meetings in Medan when the
plans to stage the massive protest were discussed, he added.
Throughout the week-long riot, Muchtar was in Jakarta, but he
was monitoring the situation through his subordinates in Medan.
In Jakarta yesterday, 40 activists from several non-
governmental organizations staged a peaceful demonstration
outside the House of Representatives, demanding Muchtar's release
without any preconditions.
The NGOs, which have formed an alliance called Solidarity for
the Defense of Labor Rights, urged the House and also the
National Commission on Human Rights to investigate Muchtar's
arrest.
They group also called for the restoration of the right to
organize and freedom of expression.
In Medan, the local SBSI leader Amosi Telaumbanua yesterday
was arraigned in a district court on charges of inciting the
April riots.
The state prosecutors said Amosi gave the command to start the
protest march last April. He also helped produce the leaflets
calling for the protest and distributed them at various factories
in Medan.
The SBSI was calling for the protest to push for a hike in the
official minimum wage level from Rp 3,100 to Rp 7,000. (jsk/emb)