Rebel trade union seeks international recognition

Rebel trade union seeks international recognition

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Prosperous Labor Union (SBSI),
which has been fighting for official recognition in Indonesia,
may get it from an international body instead.

A team from the powerful International Confederation of Free
Trade Unions (ICFTU) is currently in town to examine the SBSI's
activities before deciding whether or not to admit it.

"We've come here to examine whether SBSI has met all
requirements to gain membership in the ICFTU and whether the
union works freely or not," chief delegate G. Sanjeeva Reddy, who
is also ICFTU vice president, told The Jakarta Post at the SBSI's
secretariat here yesterday.

Reddy said his delegation's mission had nothing with the
Indonesian government's refusal to recognize the SBSI. "We are
not concerned over politics but purely labor. We come here to
discuss on ways to strengthen SBSI's organizational development."

SBSI, which was founded two years ago, has been challenging
the government's policy of recognizing the All Indonesian Workers
Union (SPSI) as the only organization allowed to represent
workers in disputes with management.

The government has said that SBSI was to blame for this
month's workers' riots in Medan, was politically motivated, and
did not truly represent the interest of workers.

Several attempts by SBSI to register itself have been
rejected.

The government has fallen short of outlawing the organization
but it has busted several of SBSI's meetings in the past,
including a national congress in July in Bogor, West Java.

Reddy said the ICFTU would give its support for SBSI provided
it worked independently in fighting for the interests of workers
and the Indonesian nation.

He stressed, however, that SBSI be completely independent in
its financing and its activities should have nothing to do with
certain political interests.

Reddy and his delegation members, consisting of Rengo Yoichi
Yamada of Japan, B. Jonckheere of Belgium and Nagarajan of India,
were later harassed by security officers when they were visiting
the SBSI's chapter in Tangerang, according to SBSI leaders.

The ICFTU delegates were met with 30 security officers on
their arrival, were asked various questions and were told to
produce their passports, visas and permission for their
activities in Indonesia.

The officers eventually allowed them to meet with SBSI
Tangerang chairman Ruswan.

Meanwhile SBSI Chairman Muchtar Pakpahan, after meeting with
the ICFTU delegates, said that he and several officers of the
Armed Forces' Intelligence Board (BIA) would leave for Medan to
sort out some of the problems left in the wake of the riots.

One of his missions will be to oversee the arrest of Amosi
Telaumbanua, chairman of the SBSI office in Medan, who has been
on the run since the riots.

"Amosi will be handed over only under a guarantee by the Armed
Forces (ABRI) that he will not be harshly treated during the
police investigation," Muchtar said.

Police said they were looking for Amosi because he was
believed to have masterminded the riots.

At least 47 people, 19 of whom are members of SBSI, have been
arrested and are being investigated by police. They were expected
to be tried in the near future.

Pakpahan said the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) will
represent the SBSI executives during the trials.

Meanwhile, in Medan, the local security agency Bakorstanasda
has deployed teams to help deal with labor conflicts in various
factories in Medan and its surrounding municipalities.

The teams mostly sought to ensure that companies comply with
labor regulations, including the government's minimum wage rules.

The teams visited PT Musim Mas, a cooking oil factory, PT
Djibta Rimba Djaja (plywood), PT Garuda Mas Perkasa (shoes), PT
Central Windo Pertiwi, PT Pita Rimba (plywood). (rms/rmn)