Thousands of teachers continue strike against police brutality

Hasrul, Kendari

Some 7,000 teachers continued their strike for a 10th day on Wednesday in Muna regency, Southeast Sulawesi, in protest against the alleged beating of a principal by a policeman.

The strike began on June 8, two days after the principal of SLTP 1 junior high school, La Ode Tiala, was allegedly beaten by police officer Chief Brig. Alim Salman, whose son attends the school. Some students have also joined the protest.

Teachers and students staged a two-day rally on June 8 and June 9 at the Muna legislative council to demand the arrest of Salman.

"The strike will continue until firm action has been taken against Chief Brig. Alim Salman," Suhadar Silangit, chairman of Muna's Indonesian Teachers Union (PGRI), said on Wednesday.

The detention of Salman at the Southeast Sulawesi Police headquarters for questioning has not been enough to convince the teachers to call off their action.

PGRI provincial executive board chairman La Parisa said his office was supporting the protest in a show of solidarity with the teachers in Muna.

He called the assault on principal Tiala "inhumane", saying it was in violation of the law and belittled the dignity of teachers.

Parisa said the PGRI was demanding that Salman be expelled from Muna and punished severely in accordance with the law.

He also supported the strikers' call for Salman to remove his son from SLTP 1.

According to the strikers, Salman was angered after teachers at SLTP I punished his son on June 1.

Salman came to the school on June 2 and reportedly shouted at teachers, leaving after several minutes.

Two days later, the policeman returned to the school and allegedly slapped a security guard, identified as Teguh, before assaulting La Ode Tiala and threatening to shoot him and other teachers and destroy the school with hand grenades.

All of the accusations have been denied by Salman, who spoke to The Jakarta Post from his cell at the provincial police headquarters on Saturday.

"For God's sake, I didn't beat any teacher or principal. I only slapped a security guard in the face, but he tried to resist me," he said.

Representatives of the protesters, led by Suhadar Silangit, were received by Southeast Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Teuku Ashikin Husein on Wednesday after they failed to secure a meeting with councillors.

They told Ashikin to deal firmly with the policeman in question, while providing him with their chronology of the incident.

"We want the police chief to be firm in handling the case because the beating and threats by the suspect offended our dignity and honor," Suhadar said.