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)