SBSI discussion stopped for security reasons
SBSI discussion stopped for security reasons
JAKARTA (JP): Police yesterday broke up a discussion on
people's rights held by the independent labor union, SBSI, citing
security reasons.
An officer of the East Jakarta police precinct said it was
better for the Indonesian Welfare Trade Union (SBSI) to cancel
the discussion for fear participants might become victims of a
"riot".
Corp. D. Ermanto told The Jakarta Post that police decided to
stop the talks when a crowd of around 10 men gathering outside
the small SBSI office started yelling abuse at participants.
He denied that the action was taken because the gathering did
not have permits.
SBSI chairman Muchtar Pakpahan said he only notified the local
police office about the discussion, held to commemorate
International Human Rights Day which falls on Dec. 10.
Muchtar also said he did not request any permits from the
police because "there was no need to do so".
Muchtar told the participants to stay calm even as the police
broke up the meeting and the crowd outside of the room started to
yell "Disperse this gathering, disperse SBSI!".
The men claimed to be members of the only officially-
sanctioned All Indonesia Trade Union (SPSI).
"We're from SPSI, we reject any rival organization!" the men
shouted. A witness said another man shouted, "Burn down the SBSI
office."
However, SPSI has denied any involvement with the incident.
Chairman of the SPSI Jakarta branch Sujito Tamtomo told the Post
by telephone that the men could not possibly be SPSI members.
"The government has not declared SBSI illegal, so why would we
want to stop them?" he said.
The fracas started at 2.20 p.m in the middle of the
presentation by Soenardi, the chairman of a previously large,
populist organization, Gerakan Rakyat Marhaen (Marhaen Peoples'
Movement).
Another participating Marhaen member, Sukmawati
Soekarnoputri, a daughter of the late President Sukarno, did not
address the talks saying she was feeling unwell.
Muchtar had earlier delivered his presentation without
interruption.
Ermanto led the police officers entering the office on Jl.
Kayu Ramin 32 in the Utan Kayu Utara district, East Jakarta, and
said the gathering must be stopped "in the name of the law".
"The participants are in danger from the men outside," Ermanto
said.
Muchtar said he agreed to disperse the meeting, but asked the
police to leave the room. Tension mounted when the police refused
to do so.
An officer unplugged a cable from the sound system and tried
to take over the microphone, but Muchtar held on to it.
The officers eventually went to the back of the room and stood
watching while Muchtar closed the meeting, apologizing to the
participants which included representatives of the Australian
Embassy and the American Free Labor Institute.
Muchtar and several participants said the police should be
protecting them from the men, whom the police did not approach.
In a press release sent from SBSI hours after the incident,
staff member Gatot Indroyono stated local police and military
officials had arrived at 9 a.m. and declared that they were
safeguarding the event.
Officers, riot police and plainclothes security men then stood
guard at both ends of the street SBSI's office is on.
Gatot said in the press release that SBSI members identified
an official of the East Jakarta SPSI office among the crowd.
He said the discussion was being held after the dispersion of
SBSI training sessions in Medan, North Sumatra on Nov. 22 and
Nov. 27. Authorities there had declared SBSI illegal.
SBSI had intended to compare experiences with those of other
new organizations, including the Indonesian National Unity, and
the Indonesian Christian Participation (Parkindo), whose
activities have not been disrupted by the authorities.
Parkindo founder Sabam Sirait and PNI leader Mrs. Supeni
failed to show up. (anr)