Assistant teachers from Yogyakarta complain to parliament
Hundreds of temporary teachers from private schools
in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta protested at
the House of Representatives (DPR) in Jakarta on
March 13. They were demanding that their status be
changed to state civil servants and called for
increases in welfare allowances to 700,000 rupiah
per month.
After demonstrating at the DPR for almost an hour,
one of the teachers’ representatives was received by
a member of the DPR’s Commission X who promised to
convey their wishes to the government. Protesters
then disbanded peacefully.
Thousands of assistant teachers from across Central
Java also held a mass meeting at the Diponegoro
Stadium in Semarang on March 13 urging the
government to fulfil its promise to make them
permanent civil servants. (Liputan 6, 13/03/2006)
Hundreds of Damri drivers in Surabaya go on strike
As many as 280 Damri city bus drivers in the East
Java provincial capital of Surabaya went on strike
on March 12 putting stickers on their vehicles
condemning the state-owned transport company Damri
management of treating them inhumanly.
In particular, the drivers cited the head of the
Surabaya Damri unit, Nurmahjudi, who they said had
sacked drivers who have openly expressed complaints.
"We see the present leadership as exceedingly
authoritarian and arrogant", said one of the
drivers. Protesters said they were determined to
continue the strike until the Jakarta director of
Damri agreed to come to Surabaya and meet with them.
(Liputan 6, 13/03/2006)
Public transport drivers complain about unfair competition
Hundreds of public transport drivers went to the
Magetan public relations office in East Java on
March 13 to complain about the large number of
busses and open vehicles transporting passengers on
their roots. They also questioned the high level of
fees collected during vehicle emission tests.
The public relations office responded with a promise
to cooperate with police to regulated public
transport routes and act against officials that
commit violations. Although protesters accepted the
promise they threatened to demonstrate again if it
was not fulfilled. (Liputan 6, 13/03/2006)
Workers blockade plantation factory in Surabaya
Around 700 people from the Indonesian Independent
Tobacco, Sugar Cane and Sugar Trade Union Federation
blockaded the offices of the PTPN X plantation
company in Surabaya on March 13. They were demanding
that the management stop making cuts to workers’
benefits and that management gives guarantees to
seasonal workers that they will become permanent
mill employees.
"We also demand that the management fulfill the
normal stipulations particularly on insurance
premiums and pension rights", said one of the
protest leaders in a speech. The workers, who came
from 12 independent trade unions from PTPN sugar
factories across East Java, also held an earlier
demonstration at the Surabaya DPRD.
A clash almost broke out when the company organised
a counter demonstration by employees from the PTPN
office who removed a large banners and posters on
the front gate. Angered by the removal of the banner
a scuffle broke out although police were able
separate the two sides. Police later arrested two
people who they said were provocateurs. ( Detik.com,
13/3/2006)
North Jakarta residents demand jobs
Hundreds of residents from Penjaringan in North
Jakarta demonstrated on March 14 demanding jobs from
developers in the Pluit business zone. Protesters
said they had been left without jobs while local
development projects in their area could provide
employment. (Liputan 6, 14/3/2006)
Residents blockade road leading to Newmont mine
Hundreds of residents from 12 villages in the Moyo
Hulu sub-district of Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara,
blockaded a road leading to a gold mining
exploration zone owned by PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara
at Dodo Rinti in the Ropang sub-district on March
14. They were demanding that their region also be
designated as a mining zone. (Liputan 6, 14/3/2006)
Traders demand investigation into management irregularities
Hundreds of market traders in Manado, North
Sulawesi, demonstrated at the local prosecutor’s
office on March 14 demanding an investigation of the
director of PD Manado City Markets over suspicions
of irregularities in contributions to the market.
The traders said that the contribution revenue
report from the market did not match the amounts
deposited in the local treasury. (Liputan 6,
14/3/2006)
Students protest electricity hikes by sowing mouths shut
Dozens of students from the City Network held a
“mouth-sewing” action at the Indonesian State Satya
University in South Jakarta on March 14 in protest
against planned increases to basic electricity
rates.
According to City Network coordinator Nando, the
action was to show the elites in power that the
people are already at breaking point and feel unable
to express their wishes. Twenty students from four
different universities plan to sow their mouths shut
at the action today.
The group said that hopes of reform and prosperity
have become just a dream, the reality being the
government does not side with ordinary people as can
be seen from the recent increases to the price of
fuel, water and toll road charges. (Tempo
Interactive, 14/3/2006)
West Java traders complain over kiosk rents
Hundreds of traders from the Induk Rangkasbitung
Market in Lebak, West Java, demonstrated at the DPRD
on March 14. They were demanding a reduction in the
cost of renting kiosks that they say is too
expensive and beyond their reach. They were also
questioning a project to rebuild the market by PT
Bukit Kiara Lestari that they suspect is full of
corruption, collusion and nepotism and failed to go
through a tendering process. (Liputan 6, 14/3/2006)
Anti-Communist protest in East Java
Hundreds of demonstrators from the Anti-Communist
Front and the Centre for Indonesian Communities
Studies demonstrated in Surabaya on March 13 against
the rise of the Indonesian Neo-Communist Party.
According to the action coordinator Masuqi Muslem,
the action was to commemorate the dissolution of the
Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) on March 12, 1966,
by Major General Suharto. In a speeches they called
on the government to maintain the ban on the party
and for an investigation into human rights
violations by the PKI.
Arriving in five busses they unfurled banners and
posters with messages including "PKI or Neo-PKI both
anti-God and Anti-Pancasila [the state ideology]".
(Tempo Interactive, 14/3/2006)
Makassar students demonstrate against dam project
In commemoration of World Dam Construction Day,
around 100 students and non-government organisation
leaders from the Anti-Imperialist Front demonstrated
at the Japanese Consulate in the South Sulawesi
provincial capital of Makassar on March 14. They
were calling on the government to cancel the planned
construction of dams in three parts of South
Sulawesi that are being constructed jointly by
regional governments and Japanese companies.
The students said that the construction of dams
always has a detrimental impact on local people and
only benefit the multi-national companies. "Dams
only cause [foreign] debt to pile up further, land
slides and environmental damage everywhere, and
local people loose their principle source of
livelihood and their collective culture in society
is eroded ", said one of the students in a speech.
In a press release handed out at the protest,
students gave as an example the Bili-Bili dam in the
Gowa regency that has caused significant losses to
local people. "As many as 8,000 families have lost
their land, and to this day there is still no
clarity over their compensation", they wrote. The
action was almost marred by a clash when student and
police pushed and shoved each other outside the
consulate. ( Detik.com, 14/3/2006)
Transvestites in Yogyakarta protest pornography law
Demonstrations against the draft law on pornography
have become commonplace, but when transvestites hold
them of course they will be interesting. The
transvestites represented artists, dramatists and
craftspeople from Yogyakarta. The action that was
organised by People’s Union for the Appreciation of
Ethics and Aesthetics (Soneta) was held on the
grounds of the Yogyakarta DPRD on March 13. Students
from the Yogyakarta Indonesian Arts Institute,
dangdut (a popular form of Indonesian music) artists
and transvestites joined the action.
The action was different from those held by students
and other groups in that it was filled with laughter
and humor. They brought a sound system and keyboard
on the back of an open truck and protesters were
even entertained by well known comic Marwoto and
singer Susi.
They said that they opposed the draft law because it
represents a serious danger to the survival of the
state, nation and society. In a speech Marwoto said
the law was a serious threat to pluralism and the
diversity of art, ethic traditions, culture and
religion. "This could be a serious threat to freedom
of thought and creative and progressive expression
for all people whether they be individuals, a group,
or a community", he said. (Detik.com, 14/3/2006)
Maluku residents demand land certificates
Hundreds of residents from three villages in the
Waitia sub-district of Central Maluku held a
demonstration at the offices of the Maluku governor
on March 14. They were demanding that the provincial
government immediately issue land certificates in
order to clarify their ownership of the land.
The protesters, who are residents evacuated after an
earthquake in 1978, said the Maluku government had
been promising them land ownership rights for 28
years. "To this day the status of the land is still
unclear. We are not being treated as citizens of our
own nation", shouted one of the protesters.
Maluku deputy governor M Abdullah Latuconsina who
met with the protesters promised to fulfill their
demands immediately but said that in order to issue
the certificates it must be in accordance with the
2006 budget. As of 11am the demonstrators were still
protesting at the governors’ office guarded by
dozens of police and security personnel. (Detik.com,
14/3/2006)
Police break up student protest in Riau
Police broke up a demonstration in by some 20
students from the City Coalition of Student
Organisations that was held in front of the
Pekanbaru mayor’s office in Riau on March 14.
Police said the action was broken up because
protesters did not have a permit to demonstrate and
because in speeches they took up the theme of the
proclamation of Riau independence that was first
declared five years ago on March 15.
Although the protest only involved around 20 people,
Riau police deployed more than 300 personnel causing
serious traffic jams in the centre of the city.
( Detik.com, 14/3/2006)
Traditional dancers in Solo oppose draft pornography law
Hundreds of artists from the Central Java city of
Solo held a huge stage show behind the East Java
Cultural Park on March 15 in response to
deliberations by the DPR on the draft law on
pornography.
The event involved artist from a number of different
disciplines including theatrical performers,
musicians, dancers, choreographers, puppeteers,
painters, writers, campus theater groups, studio
workshops and traditional Tayub dancers.
One of the event organisers, Ki Slamet Gundono, said
that they chose Tayub dancers to criticise the law
because Tayub represents an expression of social art
for the lower classes that would be eliminated if
the law were enacted. "This legislation will limit
and even require permission for an artistic
presentation that is regarded as having erotic
elements", said puppeteer Wayang Suket. (Tempo
Interactive, 15/3/2006)
Workers in East Jakarta demand severance pay
Around 50 employees of the towel and hotel supply
factory PT Wonderfull from the National Trade Union
(SPN) demonstrated at the East Java offices of the
Labour Ministry on March 16.
PT Wonderfull, which announced it would close on
March 1, is offering its employees severance pay
amounting to 6.3 billion rupiah to be divided among
918 employees. "But this is not in accordance with
existing regulations. Severance pay should be
equivalent to wages plus an additional 15 percent or
around 30 million rupiah per person", said Rahman
who has worked for the company for 10 years.
The workers said they questioned the closure of the
company because of the many orders rolling in from
hotels. They also had doubts because the company had
closed without any prior indications of bankruptcy.
"The factory suddenly decided to close total, we are
suspicious about the decision", he said. (Tempo
Interactive, 16/3/2006)
Central Java residents call for resignation of village head
Hundreds of residents from the Semiliran village in
Pemalang, Central Java, demonstrated on March 16
calling for the removal of the local village head,
Abdul Rohman. The action was trigger by direct cash
subsidy payment deductions of as much as 20,000
rupiah by Rohman. (Liputan 6, 16/3/2006)
Residents blockade coal mining company in South Kalimantan
On March 16, dozens of Bati-Bati residents from the
Tanah Laut regency of South Kalimantan blockaded the
front gates of coal mining company PT Arutmin. The
protesters, who were demanding compensation for land
used by PT Arutmin, not only blockaded the road but
also set fire to tyres and built piles of stones on
the road.
PT Arutmin has managed the disputed land since
September last year. Landowners are asking for
compensation for the land that contains coal
deposits valued at 2 billion rupiah. PT Arutmin says
it is only prepared to compensate them at the
standard local government rate. (Liputan 6,
16/3/2006)
PT Fotexco workers in Jakarta demand wage increase
Around 500 employees of PT Fotexco Clothing
International in Cakung, East Jakarta, held an
action in front of the City Hall in Central Jakarta
on March 15 demanding wage increases in accordance
with the provincial minimum wage.
They were asking for a wage increase from 819,000
rupiah per month to 860,000 rupiah. They are also
asking the company to rehire two of their colleges,
Suryono and Masduki, who they said were arbitrarily
dismissed.
The protesters, the majority of whom were women,
arrived in 11 Metromini busses and immediately
started protesting in front of the City Hall. A
short time later Suryono, Masduki and worker
representative held a meeting with the head of the
Jakarta labour office, Ali Zubeir, who agreed to
mediate between the workers and the company. (Media
Indonesia, 16/3/2006)
Cigarette factory workers demonstrate in Java
Hundreds of workers from the PT Djarum cigarette
factory from the Gondoarum village in the Kudus
regency of Central Java demonstrated at the Kudus
DPRD on March 15 demanding to be allowed to charter
public transport vehicles to and from work and for a
wage increase.
Workers said that that over the last few days the
majority of workers had been forced to use village
public transport on the grounds that it is safer and
has insurance. The cost of the trip however was at
least 6,000 rupiah while chartered transport that
would pick them up directly at the village would
only cost 3,000 rupiah. They also said they were not
being paid the regional minimum wage of 590,000 per
month. (Kompas, 16/3/2006)
Poor People’s Union calls for free education, healthcare
Around 300 people from the Urban Poor Union (SRMK)
demonstrated in front of the offices of the
Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare on March
14. They held the action to demand the disbursement
of stage III of direct cash assistance (BLT) and
against the high price of rice, cooking oil and
kerosene.
SRMK is made up of the Youth Fighters for the Poor
(LPRM), the Independent Buskers Union (SPM), the
People’s Youth Union (SPR) and People’s Learning
Studio (SBR) groups from West, East and North
Jakarta. Housewives, street buskers and street
children also joined the action.
Banging pots and pans they gave speeches in front of
the minister’s office calling for comprehensive free
education and opposing planned increases to basic
electricity rates.
They also brought a banners with messages such as
“Cheap quality rice and subsidise farmers”, "BLT,
education, healthcare, employment is SBY-Kalla’s
[President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono-Vice President
Jusuf Kalla] responsibility“and”Free healthcare
for all Indonesians". ( Detik.com, 16/3/2006)
Vice president forced to leave via back door
Apparently because 1,500 activists from SRMK were
demonstrating in front of the Jakarta City Hall on
March 14, Vice President Jusuf Kalla was forced to
leave his office via the back door in order to
attend a meeting at the State Palace.
The protesters were demanding that the government
prioritise subsidies for the people rather than
paying the foreign debt and subsidising corrupt
bankers. Earlier they had held an action at the
offices of the Coordinating Minister for People’s
Welfare and the State Palace. ( Detik.com, 16/3/2006)
Consumer group protests planed electricity hikes
Commemorating World Consumers Day, dozens of people
from the Consumer Protection Coalition (KPK)
demonstrated in Yogyakarta on March 15 against
planned increases to basic electricity charges.
In a speech action coordinator Nanang Ismuhartoyo
said that the planned increases would hurt ordinary
people especially given that the impact of recent
fuel price hikes on people’s purchasing power is
still being felt.
Ismuhartoyo said that they opposed the plan because
the state-owned electricity company PT PLN is using
the excuse of a budget deficit as ground to increase
prices while an audit by the Supreme Audit Agency in
February found that the deficit was not as large as
earlier reported by PLN.
"The pubic as consumers cannot just be played around
with by PLN", said Ismuhartoyo adding that the
deficit may well be because of PLN’s inefficient
financial management. "One example is the case of
the sharing out of money by the PLN’s executive
director to the company management amounting to
billions of rupiah in 2005", he said. Ismuhartoyo
also said that past price hikes had not been
followed by improvements to services citing meter
reading errors, blackouts and power fluctuations
that damage equipment. ( Detik.com, 16/3/2006)
Furniture workers protest in Medan
More than a thousand workers from a furniture
factory in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra, demonstrated
at the offices of the governor and DPRD in Medan on
March 16. The employees of PT Cipta Meubelindo were
demanding that the company resolve a number of
outstanding issues such as wages, overtime, leave
and insurance.
During the action protesters said that they had
already conveyed their demands to the company
management but had only been met by violence from
paid thugs. They are therefore demanding an
investigation into the mistreatment of a number of
workers that took place last week and for the
governor and the DPRD to take firm action against
the company for using paid thugs to silence their
demands. (Liputan 6, 17/3/2006)
Students continue hunger strike over electricity hikes
Doctors have recommended that a hunger strike
against planned electricity price hikes - that has
been going on for four days - be ended saying the
protesters are showing signs of shock. Protesters
however ignored the advice and continued the action
even though two had to be given infusions.
According to the protest coordinator, Muhammad
Khoironi even though the DPR has opposed the
increases they will not end the action because they
did not trust members of the DPR. "Until there is a
decision by the government, we will continue this
action", he said.
Meanwhile, 30 students from the Universal Indonesian
Front held an action against the increases at the
PLN offices in South Jakarta. The students shouted
slogans opposing the price increases and corruption
as well as setting fire to tyres. A confrontation
almost broke out when police refused to allow
demonstrators to continue the protest at the
entrance to PLN. (Tempo Interactive, 17/3/2006)
Health workers in Manado go on strike
As many as 375 workers from community healthcare
centers (Puskesmas) in Manado went on strike on
March 16. They were demanding that the Manado
municipal government pay allowances in accordance
with Presidential Decree Number 5/2004. "If they
don’t pay up, we will stay on strike", said action
coordinator Wayan Munggok. According to the head of
the Manado health agency they are prepared to pay
the allowances but the payments are ’still in
process’.
In the Kendal regency of Central Java, teachers and
civil servants held a demonstration at the city
square. As well as giving speeches they also set
fire to tyres as an expression of their opposition
to the attitude of the Kendal regent, Hendy Boedoro,
who they said had acted arbitrarily in the reshuffle
of government employees.
A similar action was held by former honorary civil
servants from the Kendal regional government. They
were demanding to be re-employed after their
contracts were terminated, allegedly because of a
lack of funds. The protesters were questioning the
fact that despite the supposed lack of funds the
Kendal government had now gone ahead and appointed
new honorary civil servants. (Liputan 6, 17/3/2006)