Police blockade prevents Makassar workers from occupying airport

Detik.com - May 1, 2011

• Dicegat Aparat Masuk Bandara, Buruh di Makassar Membubarkan Diri – detikNews. Minggu, 01/05/2011

Muhammad Nur Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Around 1,000 workers in the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar disbursed after protesters were prevented from entering the Sultan Hasanuddin international airport by a police blockade in front of the airport entrance.

Prior to dispersing, the protesters from the Indonesian People's Opposition Front (FORI) were involved in a scuffle with police when they tried to force their way through the blockade.

"We wanted the demonstrating workers to occupy the airport, because the airport is a vital state object and we wanted our demands to be heard, because we were tired of [demonstrating at the] Regional House of Representatives and the governor's office. Our voices were not being heard there", said FORI field coordinator Muchtar Guntur in a speech in front of the police blockade.

After failing to break through the blockade the workers disbursed with Guntur pledging that they would return at a later time. Other workers meanwhile held an action at Makassar industrial Zone. (mna/gun)

[Slightly abridged translation by James Balowski.]