Reporters seek help from rights body

JAKARTA: Some 40 journalists and employees of Berita Buana daily reported PT Berita Media Buana Pers president director Rahim Soekasah and PT Bakrie Kapital Indonesia president commissioner Nirwan Dermawan Bakrie to the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) on Friday.

The spokesman for the workers, Ayid Suyitno, accused Rahim and Nirwan of violating Law No. 39/1999 on human rights, which stipulates that every person has the right to live and improve his or her welfare and access to work.

Kompas Cyber Media quoted Ayid as saying that Rahim and Nirwan had failed to pay the workers' salaries since October 2003. They asked the rights commission to investigate their allegations.

A member of Komnas HAM, Amidhan, said the rights commission would discuss the issue at a plenary meeting on June 18, and could summon Rahim, Nirwan and the workers' representatives to find an amicable solution. -- JP