Workers join protest against R&D policy

Workers join protest against R&D policy

Berni K. Moestafa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Several labor unions representing thousands of workers from both
private and state companies joined protests against releasing
debtors from possible criminal charges, saying that they might
resort to a nationwide strike or sue the government to annul the
decision.

Labor unions of state utility companies, such as
telecommunications company PT Telkom and PT Indosat, electricity
company PT PLN, oil and gas company Pertamina and railway company
PT KAI, as well as unions from state- and private-owned banks and
even a union representing workers from Japanese companies, signed
a petition on Tuesday against the government's release and
discharge, or R&D, policy.

Nazir Syarief, representing labor unions at state companies
like PT Indosat and PT Telkom, said the petition was the first
step in a campaign to revoke the R&D policy.

"Our last resort would be to cease services -- no power, no
long-distance calls, even if it's just for an hour," Nazir said.

Under the R&D policy, ex-bankers who have admitted to abusing
about US$10 billion in state funds could avoid legal prosecution
if they repay some of the money and other debts to the
government.

Union members, however, said the policy smacked of injustice.
Last week, non-governmental organizations threatened to sue
President Megawati Soekarnoputri if she insisted on releasing
debtors from possible criminal charges.

"The government should instead make a list of rich corruptors
and force them to return the money," Nazir said.

Coordinator of the Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW), Teten
Masduki, who helped arranged the press meeting for the petition
signing, said the petition would enhance the campaign against the
R&D policy.

"We may not be staging mass demonstrations on the streets, but
we'll make sure the government hears our voice," he said.

Teten said labor unions signing the petition represented
around 200,000 workers nationwide.

Tuesday's petition signing comes on the heels of nationwide
demonstrations against the government's move to raise fuel,
electricity and telephone charges.

Udi Bowo, representing PLN's labor union, concurred and said
the government should reverse its policy of raising utility
prices as "our workers are suffering quite a lot from the
government's policies."

ICW described the decision as unpopular, but one that went
ahead despite public protests.

"They (the government) forgive debts, raise utility charges,
and sell state assets," Teten said.

Iskandar Sonhadji, a legal expert at ICW, said the labor
unions and several non-governmental organizations have considered
filing a class action lawsuit or calling a judicial review to
annul the R&D policy.

Labor unions joining the anti-R&D protest marks a shift from
their previous concerns on the sale of state companies.
Meanwhile, it also signals a more unified front amid growing
protests against President Megawati over what they described were
her insensitive policies.