Residents rally for employment

JAKARTA (JP): More than 3,000 residents from the area surrounding the Cibitung industrial complex, some 35 kilometers east of Jakarta, staged a rally on Wednesday to demand more employment opportunities in the complex's factories.

The rally blocked traffic around the industrial area for more than three hours.

Jakarta Police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis said the crowd dispersed after an agreement was reached at 3 p.m.

"Representatives from 21 companies agreed to employ 73 local residents, as demanded," he said.

"Companies in the Cibitung industrial complex pledged to employ local residents, but they didn't keep their promise. There are only a few of us working there," a resident was quoted by satunet.com. as saying.

The industrial complex is home to more than 100 factories, involved in the manufacture of car accessories, cardboard, electronic goods and pipes, among other items.

Residents from five villages near the industrial complex began their rally at 5 a.m. to express their dissatisfaction with the factories.

The protesters blocked the Cibitung toll gate, the Maspion factory and the MM 2100 industrial area. They also placed barricades, barrels and burning tires in the street, in an effort to prevent workers from reaching the factories. (05/ylt)