Seafarers union elects new leader

Seafarers union elects new leader

JAKARTA (JP): The three-day extraordinary congress of the
Indonesian Seamen's Association (KPI) concluded on Monday with
the election of Hanafie as its new chairman for the 2001-2004
term, to replace Iskandar Illahude, whose leadership sparked
protests among members of the International Transportation
Federation (ITF).

Besides electing the union's other 16 new functionaries, the
congress also reviewed its statute and designed new programs, in
particular, training schemes to improve Indonesian seafarers'
skills.

The union's amended statute asserts that KPI is a categorical
trade union under the All-Indonesia Workers Union Federation
(FSPSI) and the term of the new executive board has been cut
short from five years to three years, Matias Tambing, the elect
secretary general, said

"From now on, KPI will enhance cooperation with FSPSI in
conducting its programs," he said in the congress's closing
ceremony.

Hanafie, elect chairman, said the new executive board would
regroup to lead KPI to become an independent union.

"Besides establishing KPI units in all provinces, as well as
overseas, we are preparing training schemes in cooperation with
foreign partner unions and ITF to improve the quality of our
seafarers," he said.

Shigeru Wada, secretary of ITF for the Asia-Pacific region,
praised the democratic proceedings and pledged better cooperation
with KPI in the future.

"The congress progressed democratically. There was no money
politics nor intervention from outside. The congress is far more
democratic than previous congresses in Medan, North Sumatra, and
Malino, South Sulawesi," he said.

Shigeru said ITF was ready to forge cooperation with KPI to
improve the quality of Indonesian seafarers and provide
protection for those who were employed by international shipping
companies.

"With the democratic congress and its new genuine
functionaries, KPI is expected to grow as an independent union
with its sole mission of improving its members' social welfare,"
he said.

ITF has previously threatened to suspend KPI's associate
membership in the international labor union and rejected
providing protection for some 32,000 Indonesian seafarers working
in foreign shipping companies unless the local union holds a
congress to elect new and independent activists.

The previous executive board had sparked criticism since
Iskandar took charge in 1998. He is also the director of
classification at the Ministry of Transportation and
Telecommunication. Many have accused him of misusing the union to
function as a recruitment agency. (rms)