Reporters seek help from rights body

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