http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/53216
Trade union activist Sulthoni Farras, a leader of the Indonesian
union federation Progresip, union alliance Sekber Buruh, and member of
Indonesian political organisation KPO-PRP, is in danger of arrest for
leading a strike last year. Another activist, Bona Ventura, may also
face charges.
The Indonesian government and bosses are using these kinds of tactics against a growing workers’ movement in Indonesia.
* * *
Dear Comrade/Friend,
We are writing to ask your solidarity for a number of unionists in
Indonesia presently in danger of being arrested and charged for taking
part in lawful industrial action.
Below is some background to their situation in Indonesia. Sulthoni
Farras, a leader of the Indonesian union federation Progresip and union
alliance Sekber Buruh and member of Indonesian political organisation
KPO-PRP was summoned to appear before the Bekasi police on Monday
January 28.
The police indicate that he is formally a suspect of “misconduct” in a
strike that took place on the September 7 last year at the factory of
PT Dongan Kreasi Indonesia, located in the Hyundai Industrial Zone of
Cikarang, Bekasi.
Sulthoni remains at risk of arrest and being formally charged with
“misconduct”. In addition to Sulthoni, another KPO-PRP member, Bona
Ventura is now being sought to answer charges of defamation.
Several other union activists and leaders from various regions have
also received summons notices in relation to a range of strikes, some
dating back to 2010. They also face a range of accusations from
misconduct to falsifying union documents and defamation.
This is the latest tactic of the bosses and the police in Indonesia
to try and stop lawful union activity. While the Indonesian labour
movement has been growing particularly strongly since 2010, the bosses
and police with the support of the Indonesian government have cracked
down on activists, violently breaking up protests, threatening workers
and now attempting to intimidate and criminalise union activists.
It is not illegal to form a union and carry out union activity in
Indonesia. It is outrageous that activists and workers are being treated
as criminals. They have done nothing illegal in organising and taking
part in strike action.
The workers at PT Dongan took the brave step of forming a union in
September, that became affiliated to the union federation Progresip.
They have since been fighting to receive permanent worker status, rather
than being on uncertain work contracts. They have also fought for basic
worker rights such as maternity leave and a reasonable meal allowance.
They held a peaceful strike on September 7 that forced the Korean
company PT Dongan to negotiate with the workers.
However, since forming a union, 67 of the workers have been fired.
The union workplace leadership have been called in by the police, and
workers at the factory regularly face threats from police and hired
thugs. The fired workers have been told that they can work at the
factory again but only if they are willing to work for below the new
minimum wage. In addition to all this, Sulthoni, the union organiser,
now faces accusations of misconduct.
Unfortunately, this is an all-too-common story in the industrial
areas of Indonesia. The Indonesian government is allowing companies a
free hand to use thugs to threaten and harm workers. Now the police are
trying to criminalise legitimate union activity. This is completely
unacceptable. Rather than investigating trumped-up charges of misconduct
and defamation, the police should be investigating union-busting and
the use of hired thugs.
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