Protesters-police new clash flares up in Bandung

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)