Protesters-police new clash flares up in Bandung
BANDUNG (JP): A new clash between police and protesting workers erupted here on Thursday, injuring at least nine people and damaging dozens of stores, buildings, two hotels and many vehicles.
The accident began when some 10,000 workers returned to the provincial legislature around noon, demanding that ministerial decree No. 78/2001 on labor issues be revoked.
The decree annulled old decree No. 150/2000, which said that a company was obliged to provide severance pay for resigning or dismissed workers.
Those protesting on Thursday came from industrial areas around Bandung -- South Bandung, Cimahi and Leuwigajah, as well as Garut and Sukabumi.
An employee of state-owned toll road operator PT Jasa Marga, Jeje, said that the toll road from Pasteur to Baros, some six kilometers in length, was closed between 9.30 a.m. and 11.40 a.m. due to the rally.
"Some 8,000 laborers from Leuwigajah marched along the toll road. To anticipate this, we closed the road," Jeje told The Jakarta Post.
The laborers then gathered in front of the legislature building, better known as Gedung Sate, on Jl. Diponegoro, where a security cordon comprising five lines of police and mobile brigade troops stood.
During a speech, an employee of the provincial administration distributed copies of Governor R. Nuriana's decree, which said that the province would be maintaining the old prolabor decree.
But the workers did not believe the governor's policy and started to rip up the pamphlets, shouting, "Liar, Liar!", even though two councillors talked to them and tried to convince them.
The crowd then started to hurl stones, pieces of wood and plastic bottles, forcing the police to fire tear gas and rubber bullets.
At least nine people were injured, mostly in the head. In the two days of clashes since Wednesday, police have arrested 20 people.
The crowd dispersed at around 4 p.m., but they damaged almost every object they found along their way. They threw stones at Hotel Savoy Homann and Hotel Preanger on Jl. Asia Afrika.
Dozens of other buildings, such as the BRI tower and BII building were attacked too.
In relation to the violence, West Java Deputy Police chief Brig. Gen. Dedy Sutardi claimed that the protest had been organized by provocateurs.
"We're pretty sure that the protest wasn't staged by laborers, as they would never use violence. The demonstrators were familiar 'old players' whom we have often seen at demonstrations here," he said.
The proof was, he added, the fact that over 20 protesters arrested on Thursday were not laborers, but students, street singers and homeless people.
A suspect admitted to have received Rp 100,000 (US$9.09) to participate in the protests since Wednesday. But he refused to reveal his donor, even though police tried to force him to do so.
Separately on Thursday, chairman of the Indonesian Textile Association, Lili Asdjudiredja said that 24 major textile companies in Bandung would be closed until further notice.
"We will re-open when the situation is safe," he told the Post over the telephone from Singapore, adding that the companies suffered some Rp 25 billion (US$2.3 million) in material losses, due to the two days of demonstrations.
In Jakarta, the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) dismissed the workers' protest, saying that their demands were groundless.
Djimanto, acting secretary-general of Apindo, stated that Apindo had opposed the 2000 ministerial decree because it was unfair and irrational.
"We, along with several labor unions, have conducted a survey of many countries, including Japan, South Korea and the United States and none has such irrational rules," he said at a media conference here on Thursday.
Anton J. Supit, chairman of the Indonesian Footwear Industries Association (Apresindo), revealed that not only local businesspeople but also foreign investors had expressed their objection to the 2000 decree. (25/hdn/rms)