Kompas -
May 1, 2009
Wisnu Aji
Dewabrata, Palembang – A International Labour Day demonstration in Palembang,
South Sumatra on Friday May 1 took place without the presence of workers.
Instead, the
scores of demonstrators at there rally were comprised of students and
non-government organisation activist such as the Palembang Legal Aid Foundation
(LBH), the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) and the Palembang
Simpul Urban Poor Linkage (Uplink).
According to
Kompas’ observations, no workers appeared to take part in the action
that was centred on the Waterfall roundabout in which the protesters called for
the abolition of contract labour. The groups said that contract labour is
inhuman because the rights of contract workers are not respected.
The action
was made more interesting because the demonstrators brought effigies
symbolising capitalism as the oppressor of the working class. (WAD)
[Translated
by James Balowski.]
