Thousands of teachers continue strike against police brutality
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.