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Indonesia Roundup No 6 - March 13-19, 2006

[Indonesia roundup is a weekly compilation of actions, demonstrations and protests taken from Indonesian language news sources produced by the INDOLEFT News Service and the People's Democratic Party (PRD). Please note that actions already covered by English language media sources are generally omitted. Compiled and translated by James Balowski.]

Actions, demos, protests...

  • Assistant teachers from Yogyakarta complain to parliament
  • Hundreds of Damri drivers in Surabaya go on strike
  • Public transport drivers complain about unfair competition
  • Workers blockade plantation factory in Surabaya
  • North Jakarta residents demand jobs
  • Residents blockade road leading to Newmont mine
  • Traders demand investigation into management irregularities
  • Students protest electricity hikes by sowing mouths shut
  • West Java traders complain over kiosk rents
  • Anti-Communist protest in East Java
  • Makassar students demonstrate against dam project
  • Transvestites in Yogyakarta protest pornography law
  • Maluku residents demand land certificates
  • Police break up student protest in Riau
  • Traditional dancers in Solo oppose draft pornography law
  • Workers in East Jakarta demand severance pay
  • Central Java residents call for resignation of village head
  • Residents blockade coal mining company in South Kalimantan
  • PT Fotexco workers in Jakarta demand wage increase
  • Cigarette factory workers demonstrate in Java
  • Poor People's Union calls for free education, healthcare
  • Vice president forced to leave via back door
  • Consumer group protests planed electricity hikes
  • Furniture workers protest in Medan
  • Students continue hunger strike over electricity hikes
  • Health workers in Manado go on strike

    • 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 benefits 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)

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