Hundreds of traditional sand miners demonstrate in
Java

Around 500 traditional sand miners that work the
slopes of Mount Merapi demonstrated recently at the
Magelang Regency Regional House of Representatives
(DPRD) in Central Java. The action was held to
protest prohibitions on sand mining issued by the
local government because of environmental damage.
The protesters said that in fact it is not they but
the big mining companies using heavy machinery that
damage the environment. (Liputan 6, 19/02/2006)

Hundreds demand local officials be investigated

In Central Java, hundreds of demonstrators demanded
investigation into various corruption cases
committed by Demak regency government officials. In
speeches they said that they believe that local law
enforcement officers have been slow to act and are
afraid of arrested corrupters that are government
officials. One of the corruption cases concerns the
collection of illegal fees on a project by Demak
regent Endang Setyaningdyah. (Liputan 6, 19/02/2006)

Local residents blockade factory in Malang

More than a thousand residents from the Bedali
village in the sub-district of Lawang in Malang,
East Java, blockaded a local PT New Minatext twine-
spinning factory on February 20. The blockade
resulting in the factory being unable to operate as
the majority of workers were unable to enter.

A spokesperson for the residents, Galih Anggoro
Purwo, said they had blockaded the factory because
it has contributed nothing to the local economy and
instead has only caused them losses. Purwo gave as
an example waste being dumped in local gullies and
the digging four bore wells without permission
resulting in frequent droughts during the dry
season. Residents are also demanding that the
factory provide jobs for local people - of the 500
or so factory employees only two local people have
been employed by the factory. (Tempo Interactive,
20/2/2006)

Hunger strikers determined to continue protest

Two hunger strikers demonstrating against the
construction of high-tension transmission lines
(SUTET) were rushed to hospital on February 19 after
their health deteriorated as a result of a hunger
strike and sowing their mouths closed. The husband
of one of the two however said that it would not
disrupt the protest in the Central Jakarta district
of Menteng. "We will not stop until our demands are
fulfilled, because this is our right", said Amin
Supriyatna. This determination was reflected in the
growing number of people joining the hunger strike.
(Liputan 6, 19/02/2006)

Hundreds protest over direct cash subsidies in
Jakarta

The second round of direct cash assistance (BLT) as
compensation fuel price increases has begun but many
poor families are still ineligible. Annoyed over the
implementation and determination over which families
should receive BLT, on February 20 some 100 people
from the Urban Poor People’s Union (SRMK) and the
Youth Fighters for the People (LPR) protested at the
National Statistics Agency (BPS) in Jakarta.

After some 15 minutes 10 representatives were
allowed to meet with BPS’s deputy for social affairs
who told them that they would review the data.
Meanwhile dozens of others - the majority of which
were housewives - gave speeches and sung in front of
the BPS offices.

SRMK chairperson Marlo Sitompoel said that they had
given the BPS two weeks to review the data. "We gave
two weeks to the BPS to review the data. If jot, we
will continue to demonstrate", he explained.
Protesters also threatened to go to take their
complaints to the Coordinating Minister for People’s
Welfare if their demands are not met after a month.
(Detik.com, 20/2/2006)

Protesters damage party signs at local parliament

A demonstration on February 21 at the North Sumatra
DPRD was marred by acts of vandalism. Demonstrators
tore down the signboards of the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and the United
Development Party (PPP). Security personnel were
unable to prevent them.

The demonstration was organised by around 70 people
from the Youth Solidarity Front for Oppressed
People. The demonstration began by bringing four
people who have been on a hunger strike since
February 6 to the front gates, but because not one
House member was prepared to meet with them they
forced they way onto the grounds.

In speeches the demonstrators demanded the
government cancel the price increases, stop the
importation of rice and review recent fuel price
hikes. "The government’s policies do not side with
ordinary people", said one of the protesters.
(Detik.com, 22/2/2006)

Thousands of Maspion workers in Surabaya blockade
road

Thousands of PT Maspion workers holding an action at
the East Java DPRD in Surabaya on February 22 failed
to brake though police barricade of several hundred
officers. Failing to enter the DPRD, protesters in
tern blockaded Jalan Indrapura resulting in a two-
kilometer traffic jam. After negotiations with
demonstrators, police finally succeeded in opening
one lane. (Detik.com, 23/2/2006)

Residents call for local elections to be postponed

Some 1,500 residents from Sragen regency in Central
Java held an action in front of the offices of the
local National Elections Commission (KPUD) on
February 23. They were demanding that the election
of regional heads planned for March 25 be postponed
because both candidates are suspected of falsifying
diplomas.

The demonstration by the United Mass Organisation
Forum (FOB) was the largest action held by so far.
While representatives held a dialog with KPUD
members the protesters took turns in giving speeches
questioning the independence of the KPUD. They said
that both candidates had falsified their diplomas
and although FOB had complained about the issue some
time ago, the KPUD had failed to respond.

"We have felt the reticence of the KPUD’s attitude
from the start. We suspect that between the KPUD and
the two candidates there has been an agreement.
Because isn’t it possible that one of the candidates
in the election of regional heads is only a puppet
that was installed to confront the sole candidate",
he said. FOB said they would report the candidates
to the police. (Detik.com, 23/22006)

Protest against electricity rate hikes ends in chaos

An action opposing basic electricity rate (TDL)
increases at the state-owned electricity company PLN
offices in Malang, East Java ended in chaos with
some 50 police officers and 200 students pushing and
elbowing each other.

The incident started when students from the People’s
Opposition Front (BOR) tried to seal off the
offices. They were blocked by police who asked them
to call off the action. The students who came from
10 different groups refused and tried to forcibly
seal off the offices. After pushing and elbowing
each other police were finally able to force the
protesters off the PLN grounds.

Angered at not being able to seal off the building
they sealed the office gates and erected as sign
reading "This office has been sealed off by the
people".

The action resulted in PLN being unable to serve its
customers. Residents wanting to pay electricity
bills were scared off and chose instead to watch the
demonstration. After failing to meet with PLN’s
manager, they left for the Malang DPRD where they
held a similar action. (Detik.com, 23/22006)

Maspion workers demonstrate for third consecutive
day

Thousands of PT Maspion workers demonstrated again
at the East Java DPRD on February 23. They were
demanding that the East Java governor bring the UMK
revisions into force immediately. This is the third
action in as many days with similar demonstrations
organised on February 21 and 22.

Riding thousands of motorbikes and hundreds of
trucks, they arrived at the DPRD in three separate
waves. Before arriving, workers from the Maspion II
Unit held a long-march from their factory in
Sidoarjo to the offices of the East Java department
of labour. As a result Jl. Protokol Surabaya was
grid locked for an hour.

As many as 600 North Surabaya municipal police
assisted by Surabaya district police and Mobile
Brigade officers from the East Java regional police
were deployed to guard the demonstration. “We have
also prepared a water cannot to watch over things”,
said North Surabaya police chief Gunawan.

Workers said that the demonstration was not just
over wage issues but also because Maspion is still
employing contract workers. “Moreover workers who
are active in the trade union are often intimidated
and transferred without any clear reason”, said
Lestari, one of the action coordinators. (Tempo
Interactive, 23/22006)

Students demand Trisakti and Semanggi tragedies are
addressed

Dozens of students demonstrated at the House of
Representatives (DPR) in Jakarta on February 23
demanding that members of the House re-discuss the
Trisakti and Semanggi I/II cases.

The demands were made after a decision by the DPR’s
leadership meeting, that agreed with the
recommendations of the Trisakti-Semanggi Special
Committee, that concluded that the fatal shootings
were not cases of gross human rights violations. The
protesters came from a coalition of Trisakti
University students and the families of the victims
of Trisakti and Semanggi.

Protesters who had begun the demonstration in front
of the Nusantara Building became increasingly angry
and even attacked the front gate. Protesters, police
and DPR security personal pushed and shoved each
other however the students failed to break though
the security blockade. (Liputan 6, 23/02/2006)

Jakarta housewives oppose water rates hikes

Around 50 housewives and children from the Indonesia
Consumer Rights Struggle (PHKI) held a demonstration
at the offices of the Jakarta governor on February
24. They were demanding the cancellation a planned
8.39 percent price hike by state-owned water company
PT PAM.

They arrived at governor Sutiyoso’s office with
posters and banners with messages such as "The water
rate increases are because of the interests of a
small fraction people and bring suffering to the
people“,”PAM rates increase, the people suffer,
where is justice“,”DPRD Jakarta, don’t just talk“and”Bang Yos [Sutiyoso], your arrogance, where is
your sense of right and wrong".

Action coordinator Tono called for Sutiyoso to
resign and for the DPRD to summon him to explain the
price hikes and to cancel a deal between PAM Jaya
and its foreign partners Thames PAM Jaya (TPJ) and
PAM Lyonnaise Jaya (Palyja). They said that this had
benefited the two private companies because
trillions of rupiah from the state budget has been
spent on PAM Jaya who’s assets were then handed over
in full to its foreign partners. (Detik.com,
24/2/2006)

Maspion workers blockade road in East Java

On February 24 thousands of PT Maspion workers in
East Java provincial capital of Surabaya held
another demonstration, even blockading the main
highway between Surabaya and Sidoarjo. The resulting
traffic jams delayed passengers catching flights
from the Juanda International Airport.

The demonstrators, who were demanding to be paid the
new minimum city wage (UMK) of 685,500 rupiah per
month, said they would continue demonstrating until
the management fulfilled their demands. They also
plan to hold a similar action at the home of
Maspion’s presidential director in Surabaya.
Although this is the fourth demonstration of its
kind Maspion has as yet failed to respond. (Media
Indonesia, 25/2/2006)

Civil servants call for Poso regent to resign

As many as 200 state civil servants (PNS) and local
protesters from the Poso Peace Coalition
demonstrated at the Poso DPRD in Central Sulawesi.
The demonstration, that had been going on for the
last two days and paralyzed a number of government
offices, was demanding that the Poso Regent Piet
Inkiriwang resign.

The coordinator of the action, Safei, said that
there Inkiriwang had arrogantly removed the
secretary of the Poso PNS selection committee and
replaced them with a close associate. He has also
been involved in the falsification of diplomas. In
response the Poso DPRD promised to hold a hearing
and question Inkiriwang over the affair. Protesters
said they would remain on strike until he resigned.
(Liputan 6, 25/02/2006)

Artisans protest planed electricity rate hikes

Hundreds of artisans from the West Java city of
Tasikmalaya demonstrated at the DPRD against planned
TDL increases. Protesters said that they use raw
materials from large companies and therefore oppose
the hikes as it will increase production costs and
bankrupt their businesses.

Before going to the Tasikmalaya DPRD, protesters
held a rally around the city. On arriving at the
DPRD they gave speeches demanding that the
government cancel the planned increases. The deputy
speaker of the DPRD who met with representatives of
the protesters promised to convey their demands to
the DPR. (Liputan 6, 25/02/2006)

Thousands of workers demonstrate in Makassar

Thousands of workers from PT Panen Raya Makassar in
South Sulawesi demonstrated in front of the
company’s front gates demanding overtime and holiday
bonuses that the company has failed to pay for the
last two years. During the action protesters even
hijacked a container truck transporting tons of
cashew nuts.

An argument broke out with one of the company
managers who asked them to stop demonstrating
however the request was refused with workers
promising only to end the action if the company pays
the overtime and holiday bonuses. The protest
finally ended when the company agreed to fulfill
their demands by paying 400,000 rupiah to each of
the protesters. (Liputan 6, 26/02/2006)

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