Riot flares after forced shaving

Riot flares after forced shaving

SEMARANG (JP): An emotional mob burned down a brass handicraft
factory in Bedono, Semarang, on Wednesday after its manager and
two security guards allegedly mistreated 62 workers, including 22
women.

The abuse, punishment for alleged thefts, reportedly included
forcing the workers to get their heads shaved.

Manager Pujiono and security guards Sumadi and Jalaludin fled
from the factory and sought protection with the police in
Semarang and Salatiga.

Semarang Police Chief Lt. Col. Beno Kilapong deplored the
shaving order, saying the company should have just let the police
handle the alleged thefts rather than taking the law into its own
hands. "We will take legal action against them if we can find
strong evidence of mistreatment of workers," Beno said.

Tri Mulyani, 22, admitted she and her friends stole the
company products last week. She said they returned the stolen
goods and repeatedly apologized to the management.

Pujiono, however, was still not satisfied. He ordered them to
go to nearby barbershops and not to come back until they had
shaved their heads bald. "He threatened to report the case to the
police if we did not follow his order," Tri said.

But Pujiono's anger had not abated when he saw the bald
workers return. Accompanied by the guards, he forced the 62
workers to gather in a small room during working hours and sleep
on the floor, or lie under the sun.

"Our male friends were ordered to strip to their underpants,"
said Yuli, a 20-year-old worker.

The manager and the guards did not show any sign of calming
down even after some workers fainted.

"We were also ordered to kiss the ground," Yuli added.

Nearby residents were outraged when they heard about the
incident from the workers. Hundreds of them then went to the
factory and insisted on meeting with Pujiono, who escaped before
their arrival. The factory has 700 workers but they could not do
much to defend the company from the angry mob.

Police are still calculating the losses caused by the
destruction; there are no reports of casualties.

"It is a serious violation of human rights," activist Haryanto
said. (har/prb)