Protest Wave Hits Southeast Sulawesi: Activists Demand Halt to "New-Style Economic Colonialism" at Morosi Industrial Zone
Kendari — A wave of protests has once again shaken Southeast Sulawesi. The Coalition of Student, Youth and Civil Society Activists (KOMPAS) of Southeast Sulawesi, together with a number of civil society organisations, staged a demonstration in front of the Southeast Sulawesi Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD) building on Wednesday (14/5/2025), demanding an end to what they described as "new-style economic colonialism" in the Morosi industrial zone, Konawe Regency.
The demonstration was held as a protest against alleged human rights violations, poor occupational safety systems, and the toleration of alleged immoral behaviour by foreign workers (TKA), particularly those from China, within the working environment of PT Obsidian Stainless Steel (PT OSS).
In his speech, the Legal and Human Rights Division head of KOMPAS Southeast Sulawesi, Aldi Lamoito, stated that the situation in Morosi reflected a form of modern colonialism concealed within inhumane foreign investment.
"Workplace accidents causing permanent disability, and allegations of sexual harassment by foreign workers against local residents, are not merely ethical violations — they are a clear manifestation of structural injustice. The law must not be defeated by the power of capital," he asserted.
KOMPAS Southeast Sulawesi also highlighted the lack of transparency in law enforcement against perpetrators from among foreign workers, who they claimed tended to be protected by a permissive system. This, they said, reinforced the perception that local communities had become second-class citizens on their own land.
The Information and Data Division head of KOMPAS Southeast Sulawesi, Andri Togala, added that the series of incidents reflected the state's failure to protect its people from exploitative capitalism.
"We must not treat this as an ordinary incident. This is the consequence of a system that places profit above human safety. The state must be present as a protector, not merely as a facilitator of investment," he said.
In the demonstration, KOMPAS Southeast Sulawesi put forward three key demands:
1. Temporary Suspension of PT OSS Operations — The government was urged to immediately suspend the company's activities to allow for an evaluation of the various violations that had occurred.
2. Comprehensive Occupational Health and Safety Audit — An independent audit by a credible institution should be conducted to assess the company's compliance with workplace safety standards.
3. Investigation and Deportation of Law-Breaking Foreign Workers — Those who violated laws and social norms among foreign workers must be prosecuted without discrimination, including deportation sanctions.
In response, the Chairman of Commission IV of the Southeast Sulawesi DPRD, Andi Muhammad Saenuddin, expressed full support for the protesters' aspirations. He stated that the DPRD would promptly convene a hearing with PT OSS and relevant agencies, including the Manpower and Transmigration Office.
"We are deeply concerned about the conditions affecting local workers. Allegations of sexual harassment by foreign workers being resolved informally must not be allowed to continue. We will go directly to the field," he said.
He also affirmed that the DPRD would take a proactive stance. "There must be no repeated victims simply due to weak oversight. We will conduct unannounced inspections at the site and follow up officially," he stressed.
As a sign of their seriousness, KOMPAS Southeast Sulawesi declared they would stage a larger follow-up action if no concrete measures were taken by the company and the government.
"We are not playing around. If there is no response, we will go directly to the industrial zone to demand accountability," said Aldi.
He also referenced the tragic incident at PT Virtue Dragon Nickel Industry (VDNI), a company within the same group as PT OSS, where a local worker was killed after being crushed by heavy material whilst working.
"This is not merely a workplace accident. This is a danger alarm over systemic negligence that can kill. If workplace safety exists only on paper, then human lives will continue to be the victims," he concluded.
The demonstration was held as a protest against alleged human rights violations, poor occupational safety systems, and the toleration of alleged immoral behaviour by foreign workers (TKA), particularly those from China, within the working environment of PT Obsidian Stainless Steel (PT OSS).
In his speech, the Legal and Human Rights Division head of KOMPAS Southeast Sulawesi, Aldi Lamoito, stated that the situation in Morosi reflected a form of modern colonialism concealed within inhumane foreign investment.
"Workplace accidents causing permanent disability, and allegations of sexual harassment by foreign workers against local residents, are not merely ethical violations — they are a clear manifestation of structural injustice. The law must not be defeated by the power of capital," he asserted.
KOMPAS Southeast Sulawesi also highlighted the lack of transparency in law enforcement against perpetrators from among foreign workers, who they claimed tended to be protected by a permissive system. This, they said, reinforced the perception that local communities had become second-class citizens on their own land.
The Information and Data Division head of KOMPAS Southeast Sulawesi, Andri Togala, added that the series of incidents reflected the state's failure to protect its people from exploitative capitalism.
"We must not treat this as an ordinary incident. This is the consequence of a system that places profit above human safety. The state must be present as a protector, not merely as a facilitator of investment," he said.
In the demonstration, KOMPAS Southeast Sulawesi put forward three key demands:
1. Temporary Suspension of PT OSS Operations — The government was urged to immediately suspend the company's activities to allow for an evaluation of the various violations that had occurred.
2. Comprehensive Occupational Health and Safety Audit — An independent audit by a credible institution should be conducted to assess the company's compliance with workplace safety standards.
3. Investigation and Deportation of Law-Breaking Foreign Workers — Those who violated laws and social norms among foreign workers must be prosecuted without discrimination, including deportation sanctions.
In response, the Chairman of Commission IV of the Southeast Sulawesi DPRD, Andi Muhammad Saenuddin, expressed full support for the protesters' aspirations. He stated that the DPRD would promptly convene a hearing with PT OSS and relevant agencies, including the Manpower and Transmigration Office.
"We are deeply concerned about the conditions affecting local workers. Allegations of sexual harassment by foreign workers being resolved informally must not be allowed to continue. We will go directly to the field," he said.
He also affirmed that the DPRD would take a proactive stance. "There must be no repeated victims simply due to weak oversight. We will conduct unannounced inspections at the site and follow up officially," he stressed.
As a sign of their seriousness, KOMPAS Southeast Sulawesi declared they would stage a larger follow-up action if no concrete measures were taken by the company and the government.
"We are not playing around. If there is no response, we will go directly to the industrial zone to demand accountability," said Aldi.
He also referenced the tragic incident at PT Virtue Dragon Nickel Industry (VDNI), a company within the same group as PT OSS, where a local worker was killed after being crushed by heavy material whilst working.
"This is not merely a workplace accident. This is a danger alarm over systemic negligence that can kill. If workplace safety exists only on paper, then human lives will continue to be the victims," he concluded.