Police forcibly disperse labor union congress

JAKARTA (JP): The second congress of the Indonesian Prosperous Labor Union (SBSI) ground to a sudden halt yesterday after police forced them to suspend their meeting at their headquarters in Tebet, South Jakarta.

SBSI officials said eight of their members and four foreigners -- two Dutch journalists and two representatives from an Australian trade union -- were taken away by police for questioning.

When asked, police on the scene would not say if those taken into custody would be arrested.

Separately, a police source at the Foreigners Supervision Unit at City Police Headquarters said yesterday that two journalists had been handed over to the Dutch Embassy.

The congress was opened yesterday morning by SBSI secretary- general Sunarti who read a statement from SBSI chairman Muchtar Pakpahan, who was absent because he was serving time for inciting riots.

The government does not recognize the existence of SBSI and only sanctions the All-Indonesia Workers Union (SPSI).

Yesterday's congress was attended by some 150 chapter members from 27 provinces, as well as observers from foreign labor unions.

International trade unions, such as the World Confederation of Labor, the Jakarta chapter of the International Labor Organization and CNV of the Netherlands, were present as observers.

It was originally slated to run until tomorrow.

The first congress was held in 1993 to establish the union.

Organizers had decided to suspend the meeting after police pressed them to stop their activities.

However, witnesses said that half an hour later about two dozen police officers tried to enter the SBSI compound and disperse the crowd inside.

Minor scuffles occurred as police tried to confiscate the congress banner.

Police then took several people away in a police truck.

According to Sunarti, the congress was held to discuss the union's programs, organizational guidelines and structure.

During the opening session they also expressed opposition toward the newly endorsed labor bill.

After the meeting was broken up, Sunarti said she had yet to determine SBSI's next step. She did not say whether or not it would continue its congress.

"I'd like to think about the fate of my detained friends first," Sunarti said. (05)